Andrea Fernandes
andrea@herald-goa.com
PORVORIM: The Serula Comunidade on Wednesday refused to grant permission to the organisers namely Adventure Breaks for the second edition of the ‘Goa Trail Run’ to be held on Socorro Plateau on August 18.
This year the organizers planned to increase the course to 10 kms as they were hopeful of attracting the athletes from across the country in the monsoon.
The refusal of permission has come as a big jolt to the organisers and a relief to the residents and environmentalists, who have been opposing this run on the eco-sensitive Socorro Plateau.
After placing the application for the event, made by the organising company, before the Managing Committee meeting, it was unanimously decided that the Comunidade was not interested in granting the said company the permission to carry out the event.
The Serula Comunidade Managing Committee opines that Serula lands are green lands, environmental sensitive area having vast biodiversity connecting the surrounding villages of Socorro, Salvador do Mundo, Pomburpa and Penha de Franca.
In a reply, the committee has also informed the company seeking permission not to interfere in the Comunidade of Serula land. There was an online petition also that was put up which also received good response.
The Attorney of Serula Comunidade Peter Martins said, “They have not granted permission to the organisers to carry out the event in their land.”
“We do want out biodiversity to get disturbed and be affected. A lot of medicinal plants and other animals get affected. The committee has decided not to issue the permission for the event to be carried out in our forest area. The biodiversity committee members from the villages of Salvador do Mundo and Socorro have asked us not to grant permission for this event after their experience last year. We have not granted permission to the organisers to conduct the event on our plateau,” said Martins.
A gaunkar of Serula Comunidade Melchier Pinto Do Rosario pointed out that an event like this will not be allowed as it will disturb the plant and animal life cycle.
“I am not against adventure activities but there is a place for everything. Serula Plateau is the last piece of land that is left where there are rare and endangered species of flora and fauna found in Goa which are an integral part of the food chain for a whole lot of indigenous and migratory birds. There is no way we can allow anything like this to be held here as the natural habitat will be disturbed. An educational trip is fine but nothing competitive and commercial in nature will be allowed,” said Melchier.
The Coordinator of Goa Green Brigade Avertino Miranda told Herald this event would turn out to be an environmentally disastrous run if permission was granted.
“The monsoon season is a breeding ground for birds, reptiles, insects and a wide range of animal and plant life that thrives and is inter-dependent on each other for their survival and nurturing. The marathon will also increase the footfall in the area and could also lead to littering in the forest. This marathon seems to be unlikely to happen after the permission has not been approved by the comunidade,” said Miranda.
One can recall that recently environmentalist and nature lovers were up in arms and demanded that the event be called off due to the fragile eco-system on this plateau.
Last year this event was held on September 9.
