Team herald
VASCO: Goenchea Ramponnkarancho Ekvott (GRE) on Monday demanded that the authorities immediately take cognisance of the massive sand erosion along Cansaulim, Arossim and Velsao beaches before it’s too late.
A visit to Cansaulim and Velsao areas showed massive sand erosion. The degree of sand erosion due to rough sea waves, high tidal waves and rise in the sea levels is worrying the fishermen.
GRE President Agnelo Rodrigues said the Water Resources Department should find measures to stop erosion along the Velsao, Arossim, Cansaulim beaches.
“The WRD has to work on war footing as the beach is inaccessible due to the 12-feet deep erosion and our huts including houses are on the verge of getting washed away due to erosion,” Rodrigues added.
According to the National Centre for Coastal Research survey, for the last 26 years, India has lost 33 per cent of its coastline, nearly 20 per cent of Goa’s coastline is about to vanish.
According to National Centre for Coastal Research (NCCR) report, the major reasons for erosion are changes in the wave pattern, wave intensity, cyclones and depressions that cause heavy rains and make the waters along the coastline choppy, reduction in sediments, rising sea-levels and human activities such as construction and dredging of ports”.
GRE has blamed the Mormugao Port Trust (MPT) for unregulated dredging which is affecting the sandy beach of Velsao.
M V Ramana Murthy, NCCR director said the dredged sediments in port areas are usually dumped in deep seas and has recommended that the sediments be dumped along the coast nearby which will stop erosion.
Martha Saldanha, Cansaulim Sarpanch said, “I feel that some experts should be brought to study the sand erosion issue and come out with a solution. Boulders can be placed on the beach line just like in Mumbai, this can disrupt strong sea waves and prevent further sand erosion.”
