Team Herald
MARGAO: Olencio Simoes, joint general secretary of Goenchea Ramponkarancho Ekvott (GRE), strongly criticized Tourism Minister Dilip Parulekar and Tourism Director Ameya Abhyankar for conducting trial run of mechanised beach cleaning at Calangute.
Olencio, who is also the secretary of the National Fish-workers Forum, said fishermen of Goa strongly opposed this mechanised cleaning previously and had got assurance from the government that there would be no mechanised cleaning of beaches.
Stating that it was Tourism Minister Dilip Parulekar who made the promise on the floor of the House that beaches would be cleaned only by engaging labourers, Olencio questioned Parulekar as to why he was acting contrary to his own promise.
Olencio, who is the nephew of late Matanhy Saldanaha, further said that since the beach cleaning machines weigh three tonnes, they would destroy the sand dunes, crabs habitats, turtle and bird nesting grounds. Such destruction would violate CRZ rules, he added.
GRE Vice President Ronny Fernandes said that the machines used in mechanized cleaning would ultimately lead to the flattening of the sand dunes, thereby causing irreparable damage to the eco-system.
GRE President Agnelo Rodrigues said the government should not use mechanized cleaning as it would disrupt fishing activities and destroy rich biodiversity along the coastline.
