MARGAO: The National Fishworkers Forum (NFF) has slammed Environment Minister Nilesh Cabral for proposing a special amendment to the Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) notification of 2019.

NFF General Secretary Olencio Simoes stated that via this proposed special amendment, sand mining will be allowed, fish breeding areas will be removed and commercial activities will be permitted in fishing ward areas, which he added will ultimately finish the fishing industry and submerge all coastal villages across Goa.

Simoes pointed out that the impact of sand mining that was allowed in Thottappally beach at Alappuzha district in Kerala caused the submersion of several villages and destruction of thousands of houses and several other traditional occupations like farming, etc.

NFF further demanded that the proposed amendment be withdrawn immediately failing which the State government would be held responsible for the catastrophic consequences that would unfold in Goa subsequently.

The forum also accused the State government of being intent on destroying the coastline and coastal ecology of Goa.