Team Herald

MARGAO: The construction of a road in a No-Development Zone (NDZ) area in the village of Velsao drew huge protests from locals. The project was allegedly destroying sand dunes in the area too.

While the project proponents have got permission to build temporary huts and a shack on its property and also fence the privately-owned property, locals along with former Velsao Sarpanch Henrique De Mello and former Panch Branda Teodoxio alleged that there were no permissions for the construction of the road.

A local resident at the protest said, “A fishing community lives in this area and this project will be of great harm to us. Families have lived here for generations and this has been our traditional occupation. We are deeply upset about this as tomorrow other such encroachments in Velsao and elsewhere will be encouraged. We want a deterrent set and action taken.”

The traditional fishermen also pointed out that the Tourism Department had done a study on the beach carrying capacity which had recommended that the rights and the livelihoods of the fishing community have to be protected.

The locals also expressed fear about their traditional access to the beach being blocked in the future.