VASCO: Taking cognisance of a Herald report that laid stress on planting ‘screw pines’ (locally known as ‘kherr’), Velsao-Cansaulim villagers along with the panchayat, social groups, civil society members, students and Indian Navy personnel undertook a green initiative by planting screw pines along the Velsao Beach stretch on the occasion of World Environment Day.
Herald in its edition dated May 27,2021 had reported that ‘Screw Pines’ locally known as ‘Kherr’ saplings planted a year ago along the Velsao beach coastline by a social activist played an important role this year in halting the massive sand erosion that was occurring in the past few years. People on social media had appreciated the move taken up by activist Olencio Simoes from Cansaulim, who chose to plant ‘Kherr’ saplings on the beach to stop sand erosion and succeeded.
However, the villagers and the responsible citizens across Goa chose the World Environment Day to put this method into practice.
Goencho Ekvott in association with St Joseph Vaz College, Chicalim Youth Farmers’ Club, Goencho Ramponkarancho Ekvott, Velsao-Pale-Issorcim Panchayat along with sarpanch Henrique D’Mello, panchas Ashok Souza and Brenda T Fernandes, Goencho Avaaz Party’s Capt Viriato Fernandes were joined by Indian Navy sailors and officers led by Surg Lt Alfredo Marshal in planting ‘screw pines’ along the over two-km coastline as part of beach restoration, in tune with “Ecosystem Restoration”, the theme adopted by United Nations this year on World Environment Day 2021.
Pandanus or screw pine is a palm-like dioecious tree and shrub with thick ‘stilt roots’ that anchor in the loose sand. These stilt roots emerge from the stem, which help keep the plant upright and secure to the ground. The roots give the plant the ability to protect banks of water bodies from erosion and enhance the soil’s water holding capacity.
Goencho Ekvott founder member Orville Dourado Rodrigues said, “Velsao and Cansaulim had wide sandy beaches which had eroded. We took up this ecologically positive initiative along with the villagers, students and other organisations. All those involved were happy to interact with officers and sailors of the Indian Navy who specifically came to help restore our coastline to its former glory”.
Fr Bolmax Pereira, Mentor of Chicalim Youth Farmers’ Club, who evinced keen interest in the ‘screw pine’ plantation drive said, “This World Environment Day has been an opportunity to begin another movement — the movement of restoration and revival of Mother Nature and human ecology. It was a fulfilling experience to plant screw pine along the shore for coastal protection along with young and the old”.
Goencho Ekvott joint secretary Olencio Simoes said, “The screw pine locally called kherr, was grown by of our ancestors to stop water from entering into their properties. These shrubs can withstand strong waves during the monsoon as the roots of such trees hold a firm grip as they are spread in a large area thus preventing soil erosion to a large extent. Therefore, I appeal on the occasion of World Environment Day that this shrub be protected under the Indian Forest Act, 1927 in the Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ)”.
Overwhelmed by the response, Capt Viriato Fernandes of Goencho Avaaz Party said, “If Goa and its environment have to be saved, it is the duty of every resident of Goa to stand up to the crony capitalists, who through their henchmen, are only interested in doing lip service rather than being on the ground to do active work. I compliment Goencho Ekvott for taking up environment issues which will benefit our society at large. I appeal to the youth to protect our natural resources so that Goa can have a self-sustainable economy”.
