TEAM HERALD
teamherald@herald-goa.com
MARGAO: A project close to the Sulabh toilet complex near Colva beach has raised many an eyebrow amongst citizens and activists alike.
With no board displayed at the site to throw light on the project and the nature of work being carried out, activists have cried foul over the manner in which the government agencies are undertaking the work without following the set norms.
What’s interesting to note is that while the work has reached the stage of erecting concrete columns, no display board is put up near the site for information on the project and other related details. A board that has been displayed near the site pertains to the Colva Circuit Development Plan being implemented in the villages of Colva, Betalbatim and Benaulim at a cost of Rs 14-odd crore.
Outraged over the ongoing work, Colva Civic and Consumer Forum Secretary Judith Almeida has questioned the agencies for carrying out the work in a No Development Zone. “They have neither put up a display board nor have displayed any permissions from the relevant authorities to carry out the work and we are told that trucks load of sand from the excavation has been lifted away in violation of the environment norms,” she added.
The matter has been brought to the attention of the Director, Science, Technology and Environment, Srinet Kothawale, who has promised to issue notices to the Tourism department and the GTDC to throw light on the project at Colva.
Incidentally, Kothawale had, earlier this week, pulled up the agencies for excavating the Colva beach to carry out soil testing to set up the changing rooms on the beach, with a direction to restore the beach to its original condition.
