VASCO: Environmentalist Adv Sávio Correia has suggested that the entire Chicalim and Sancoale Bay area upto 50 meters from the river bank which is presently zoned as ‘Industrial’ be corrected and zoned as ‘natural reserve’ in the Outline Development Plan (ODP) for Mormugao.
The suggestion was forwarded to the Mormugao Planning and Development Authority (MPDA), in association with the Chicalim Villagers Action Committee (CVAC).
Correia is also a techno-legal consultant based in Vasco and is registered as ‘professional engineer’ with the chief town planner.
He further suggested that the Maimollem Lake, considered as an important water body of the port town, be identified as ‘water body’, instead of ‘Agricultural A1’ as it is erroneously zoned, presently.
According to Correia and CVAC, the draft ODP ignores forest areas, eco-sensitive and bio-diversity heritage sites within the planning area due to which disruption and destruction of fragile ecosystems, including water bodies, green cover, over-extraction of ground water etc has been taking place.
“We have given our suggestions to the MPDA that the zoning of entire Chicalim and Sancoale bay should be corrected by deleting the ‘Industrial’ zone and the bay should be zoned as Natural Reserve/Orchard (A2) or any other appropriate zone. Under the current industrial zoning of this area, barge building yards have come up which are posing a serious threat to the marine biodiversity of the area. Changing this zone would ensure that this ecologically fragile area is conserved and protected in ODP,” said CVAC secretary Rui Araujo.
Araujo said that PDA should initiate steps to declare the Maimollem Lake as a ‘wetland’ ensuring its restoration and conservation.
Other important suggestion made by Correia is to maintain the area already identified as private forests under Forest Conservation Act in Sancoale, Dabolim and Chicolna villages and such forest should be zoned under “Natural Reserve/Orchard (A2)” Zone or any other appropriate zone in ODP so that these ecologically sensitive areas are protected and preserved for posterity.
