TEAM HERALD
teamherald@herald-goa.com
MARGAO: It was on March 5 last that a Mumbai-based real estate developer was accused of mercilessly destroying a sand dune at Gandaulim ward of Colva village, triggering outrage amongst local villagers and activists.
On March 14, the Colva police registered a case against the real estate developer under the Environment Protection Act based on a complaint from Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority (GCZMA). The Colva police then maintained that action would be initiated against the real estate developer Dilip Basant Acquilla of Acquilla Properties Pvt Ltd upon his return from UK.
Two and half months after the villagers cried foul over the wanton destruction of the sand dune, the criminal case has hit a block, while no efforts are being made to restore or protect the sand dune from further destruction, even as the monsoons round the corner. Inspection of the sand dune had revealed excavation of sand admeasuring an area of 80-100 mts.
What’s interesting to note is that the authorities seem engaged in passing the buck on each other vis-à-vis restoring the damaged sand dune.
Tuesday saw GCZMA Member Secretary Levinson Martins dashing off a letter to the Member Secretary, Goa State Bio-diversity Board with the request to examine the sand dune issue on a priority and take preventive or corrective or restoration measures at the earliest in consultation with other departments like forest department and water resources department etc. Martins maintained that if the sand dune is allowed to remain as it is, it may lead to further destruction and damage during the monsoons and hence called for steps to restore the sand dune from a biodiversity point of view.
When Herald contacted the Biodiversity Board Member Secretary, Dr Sawant, he said the matter falls within the domain of the Goa Coastal Management Zone Authority. “I have already written to the GCZAM to take up measures to protect the sand dune since the matter falls within their domain,” Dr Sawant told Herald.
Interestingly, when this reporter called up the Colva police station to ascertain the status of the FIR lodged against the real estate developer, the police said no progress has been made in the case so far. The police could not answer whether the builder has returned from UK or not.
Meanwhile, questions are being raised whether the government would intervene and save the remaining portion of the sand dune from destruction during the monsoons.
