MARGAO: Social activist and leader of fishing community Olencio Simoes on Saturday welcomed the move by Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority (GCZMA) to notify the coastal belt from Velsao to Cavelossim as sand dunes.
Olencio also said, “This will not affect the tourism sector in Goa, and mostly the South coastal belt.”
Reacting to the issue which was recently raised by Benaulim MLA Churchill Alemao, he said sand dunes are a blessing to the State of Goa.
It may be recalled that a few days back MLA Churchill Alemao had claimed that there was a move to notify the coastal belt from Velsao to Cavelossim as a sand dunes, and he had strongly opposed it.
“Actually we must congratulate the GCZMA for putting effort with regard to ground truthing of the facts pertaining to the Coastal Zone Management Plan (CZMP). We have been witnessing damage to the seashores due to sand erosion and hence there needs to be some planning to protect it,” he stated.
According to Olencio sand dunes will surely protect Goan beaches from distraction, and the move to notify the coastal belt as sand dunes in welcoming one.
“There are coastal states in the country with no sand dunes. Goa is blessed with the sand dunes. I must say that there is no link to notifying the coastal belt as sand dunes and the tourism sector,” he stated.
