Low-lying areas reclaimed indiscriminately: Green

Low-lying areas reclaimed indiscriminately: Green
HERALD REPORTER
PANJIM, MAY 29
Even as the NGOs in the State are crying foul over State Government’s lethargy in preserving greenery, an environment consultant has said that the State-run agencies were indiscriminately reclaiming low-lying areas in the State.
Dr Joe de Souza, a sub-committee member for Jawaharlal Nehru National Renewal Mission (JNNURM), in a letter to the CCP Commissioner Elvis Gomes and Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority (GCZMA), has expressed his disgust over the way low lying water bodies were exploited.
“It is disturbing to note that reclamation of low lying areas, water bodies, mangroves and coastal beaches of Goa are indiscriminately carried out by vested interest groups, real estate lobby and by commercial builders much to the detriment of quality life of common man,” Dr D’Souza stated in his letter.
Dr D’Souza has also submitted several photographs of illegal developments and garbage dumps at St Inez Creek and adjoining areas as well of the mangroves at Patto.
“The St Inez Creek has been reclaimed and encroached by two builders of Panjim,” the letter alleged.
“The mangroves at Patto are been destroyed by dumping debris of repairs and constructions by the builders,” the letter added.
Dr D’Souza has also pointed out that a resident is consistently dumping waste in the mangroves, which he claims as his personal property.
“Blatant encroachment and destruction of environment is observed at both the places,” the letter said.
Dr D’Souza said that the reclamation of low lying areas will lead to flooding of Panjim city during monsoons in near future.
“Apart from this, the fish biodiversity will be affected with the destruction of mangroves as they are nurseries for coral reef fish,” he said.
The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has recently said that more than one in six mangrove species worldwide are in danger of extinction due to coastal development and other factors, including climate change, logging and agriculture.
The IUCN has also said that in last ten years India has lost nearly 80 percent of all kind of Mangroves.
“The loss of mangroves will have devastating economic and environmental consequences,” IUCN said.