A serious case of environmental violation has come to light in Varca Pedda, where a sand dune—protected under Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) norms—has been illegally destroyed.
The incident, which took place in a protected coastal area, has sparked outrage among local residents and environmentalists, who are calling for immediate action against the perpetrators and urgent restoration of the damage caused.
The motive behind the destruction remains unclear, but the implications are alarming. The sand dune served as a vital natural defence, shielding nearby paddy fields from the intrusion of saline seawater.
With its removal, there is now an increased risk of seawater flooding agricultural land during high tides or rough weather. Such an event could lead to the loss of crops and render the fertile land unusable for future cultivation.
Local panch member Batist Fernandies confirmed the incident and called it ‘destruction of nature’. “The sand dunes act as natural barriers. Now that they’ve been cut, there is a real risk of seawater entering our fields, which could ruin upcoming crop cultivation,” he said.
“Someone drove an earthmover over the dune and broke it apart. Some people are blaming the farmers, but it’s not them—their fields get flooded with seawater too. We can’t rebuild this dune or fill it back up. Varca is seeing a lot of destruction; we’ve already lost many dunes, and now seawater floods the shacks as well,” said Shohail Furtado, an environmentalist based in Varca.
The Varca Panchayat has taken suo motu cognisance and filed formal complaints with multiple authorities, including the Police Department, the Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority (GCZMA), the District Collector, and the Department of Tourism.
Additionally, a team of Panchayat members conducted a site inspection to assess the extent of the damage and gather evidence for further legal and administrative action.
“This is not just an environmental issue—it’s a threat to our livelihoods and our community’s future,” said a local panchayat member. “We cannot allow such violations to go unchecked.”
Residents of Varca Pedda have strongly condemned the act and are demanding strict enforcement of CRZ laws. They are calling for the immediate identification and punishment of those responsible, as well as the restoration of the destroyed dune.