MARGAO: Amidst the opposition to the Regional Plan 2021, there has been a strong demand from coastal residents for the preservation of sand dunes.
Be it at the beaches of Canacona or Salcete, there have been protests against the proposed destruction of sand dunes and there are fears that the RP21 will lead to systematic damage to them. On the RP21, many sand dunes have been shown as settlement zones even though they usually fall under the coastal management zone.
This question was raised at the Colva gram sabha last month. When asked if the panchayat had also sent the villagers objections regarding sand dunes and water bodies, Sarpanch Snowkon Gonsalves said the panchayat had sent the old objections and all the letters it had received, including one it had received from locals with respect to objections raised to six-meter-high sand dunes that were within the 0-500 high tide lines at Sernabatim.
“It is important that we start a movement for the conservation of sand dunes. We need to have these sand dunes restored as they are very crucial for protecting the villages from natural calamities. TERI has spoken about Goa’s vulnerability due to sea level rising and global warming. Protection of dunes and restoration is very crucial. Many dunes have fresh water aquifers, which protect them from saline water ingress,” said Judith Almeida, secretary of Colva Civic and Consumer Forum.
Almeida, along with Goa for Sustainable Development, has held presentations in coastal villages on the RP21, and the opposition to destroying sand dunes has been a key part of their discussions. They have been focusing on the need to conserve and protect sand dunes and have even warned of consequences like flooding if they are not protected.
“The forest department has to be roped in to prepare a plan before the monsoon to start planting of dune vegetation, cashew trees, etc. In Benaulim, there was an illegal commercial project as declared by the GCZMA that had demolished a pioneer sand dune and the aquifer was destroyed. They had to pump out the water for many days. We need to have a team of retired expert NIO scientists who have worked on dunes to take this forward,” said Almeida.
Environmentalists have further demanded that sand dunes be valued as Goa’s heritage. They also referred to a proposal by the Tourism Department to set up garbage segregation ,sites which will affect these pioneer sand dunes, and pointed out that the sand dunes, if protected, will attract tourists.
“Sand dunes are protectors and home to rich and varied biodiversity, which will enhance tourism,” said Jose Rodrigues, an activist from Benaulim.
