Activists object to excavation work on the beach
TEAM HERALD
teamherald@herald-goa.com
MARGAO: Changing rooms mooted at Colva beach under the circuit development plan have come under the scanner of environmental activists who have questioned the rationale behind disturbing the beach belt without permission from local bodies.
While the agency has maintained that the beach has been excavated for the purpose of soil testing before the construction of the changing rooms, the activists contended that disturbing the beach and carrying out development in a no development zone is a clear cut violation of CRZ norms.
Colva Civic and Consumer Forum Secretary Judith Almeida has sought to know how authorities could take up work on the changing rooms by excavating a portion of the beach, thereby disturbing the fragile environment. “Has the agency or contractor obtained permissions from the local panchayat body and GCZMA? How can they simply dig up the beach when the area comes under the no development zone?” she demanded to know, while urging the CRZ authority to initiate action.
Replying to a question, Judith maintained that the activists have no objection to changing rooms or toilets near the beach, but demanded that they should be temporary or mobile in nature rather than erecting concrete structures on the beach. “We have been also demanding changing rooms for visitors on the beach, but these rooms ought to be mobile and not permanent structures”, she said.
Judith also raised the issue of excavation of the beach close to the contaminated creek, raising fears that waste from the changing rooms might find its way into the creek, compounding the pollution problem.
When Herald spoke to an official of the agency carrying out work on the excavation, he maintained that the beach is being dug up to carry out soil testing in view of plans to build the changing rooms.
