MARGAO: A second inspection of the damaged sand dunes on Benaulim beach was conducted on Monday - this time by the Goa State Biodiversity Board (GSBB).
Earlier, officials from the Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority (GCZMA) had conducted an inspection last week.
The GSBB officials said they will send their report to the Member Secretary for further action and confirmed that the sand dune was cut and that there a water body nearby was at the risk of getting damaged too.
Benaulim Sarpanch Xavier Pereira, Biodiversity Management Committee (BMC) members and the MLA Venzy Viegas were present for the inspection.
Speaking to media persons thereafter, BMC Chairperson Charles D’Silva added that their committee will be holding a meeting today and will be pass a resolution that other coastal village BMCS should also adopt, which would help save sand dunes.
D’Silva demanded that before licenses are issued to any project proponent, photographic evidence of sand dunes at the location should be taken as evidence so as to protect nature.
Viegas added that the project proponent had inwarded a letter to the panchayat taking responsibility for what happened to the sand dune but that project work at this site should not be permitted until the sand dune is restored. He urged the government to take quick action and added that the Benaulim BMC is working on a proposal to preserve and restore sand dunes.