Activist alleges restored sand dune being tampered
TEAM HERALD
teamherald@herald-goa.com
MARGAO: Where’s the Mumbai-based builder, accused for the wanton destruction of a sand dune at Colva in March last?
The Colva police say the builder is still holed up in the UK and has promised to arrest him upon his return to the State under the provisions of the Environment Protection Act. But the police lethargy in arresting the builder when he was around in Goa at the time of the incident seems to have emboldened unscrupulous elements from lifting away sand from the dune, which was partly restored by the Bio-Diversity Board during the monsoons.
Social activist Judith Almeida cried foul over the continued destruction of the sand dune for want of prompt police action. “The sand dune was first destroyed by the real estate developer on March 5. But failure on the part of the police to immediately bring him to book has emboldened unscrupulous elements from tampering with the sand dune,” Judith asserted.
She said that three-wheeler goods carriers have been lifting away sand from the dune by clearing the vegetation planted during the restoration work. “The creepers which were planted on the sand dune during the restoration work carried out by the Bio Diversity Board have been removed to pave way for lifting of the sand. This has to stop immediately,” she demanded.
Incidentally, though the Bio-diversity Board has executed restoration work on the sand dune as a stop-gap arrangement in view of the intervening monsoons, officials of the departments concerned, including the Forest department, have not showed up at the site till date to restore the sand dune to its pristine glory. “The Colva police should share the blame for the state of affairs. When we had lodged a complaint over the sand dune destruction, the police took their own time to act, giving the builder passage to leave the country. Prompt action against the builder would have sent a clear signal to the real estate sharks and local vested interests not to mess up with the sand dunes,” she said.
An inspection carried out by the Member Secretary of Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority (GCZMA) Levinson Martins had revealed excavation of the sand dune admeasuring 80-100 mts.
Meanwhile, Judith has alleged that unscrupulous elements have destroyed another sand dune in Colva village. She has cried foul that though a complaint was lodged with the Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority and other authorities, action is not forthcoming till date. “Destruction of sand is a serious offense. It takes thousands of years for a sand dune to take shape. We fail to understand the inaction on the part of the authorities,” she questioned.
