-------------------------------------------------------- Do GOACAN a favour, circulate this email to your family members, relatives, neighbours and friends. Help others be BETTER INFORMED Remember April 22nd is Earth Day - time to act !! ------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------------- Documented by Goa Desc Resource Centre (GDRC) Email: [email protected] ------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------- Reckless destruction of sand dunes at Rajbhag beach ----------------------------------------------------- The former chairperson of Canacona Municipal Council, Mr Ranga Raikar has requested the concerned authorities to stop the destruction of sand dunes and the illegal construction at Rajbhag beach at Canacona by a private company, which, he alleged is destroying the natural beauty of the area.
Speaking to 'The Navhind Times' Mr Raikar said that if traditional fisherman and local residents construct a temp- orarily shed at the coastal areas of the Canacona municipality, the chief officer immediately sends a notice to demolish the same promptly. Mr Raikar further said that the Violation of CRZ rules and regulations by film industry at Rajbhag-Talpona stretch, is mercilessly destroying the prominent sand dunes which keep the sea water away from the land during the monsoon. He said the entire Canacona taluka has questioned the wisdom of the authorities, who instead of stopping this environmental disaster, are turning a blind eye and deaf ear to the entire issue. Other environmentalists, including Mr Divakar Desai, said that in order to set the stage and other required infrastructure for a film shoot on the beach, sand dunes have been destroyed near Hotel Intercontinental by a Mumbai based company. He further pointed out that more then sixty per cent of the vegetation has also been destroyed and some Casuarina trees, on a stretch of about half a kilometer have also been cut down by the local agents of the film industry, in the last ten days. This they said has created serious stress on the coastal ecosystem here. Mr Agnelo Fernandes, chief officer of Canacona Municipality said that the permission is granted to erect four temporary structures at Rajbhag beach from April 22 to May 25 on certain conditions. He further confirmed that the structures, which are presently erected, are totally illegal and action will be initiated against them within the next twenty-four hours for violating CRZ rules and regulation. He further said that one Shiva B Naik from Rajbhag, Canacona has asked for temporally permission to erect structures for shooting of a film at Rajbhag beach and he was given temporary permission and also told to obtain permission from the Directorate of Tourism and the Entertainment Society of Goa, Panaji. He was also ordered not to obstruct the way of local residents and tourists, who visit the beach. According to local residents the pathway is totally blocked and they are facing a lot of hardships. The locals at Rajbhag allege that the municipal authorities have issued a temporary license after receiving huge sums of money and accuse the authorities of corruption. They fail to understand why the authorities, citing CRZ violations, refuse to grant permission to unemployed local youth to set up temporary shacks during the tourist season, while no action is being taken against the mushrooming of illegal structures along the coastline. Environmental groups in Canacona have accused the state government of encouraging CRZ violators, including some influential individuals and business establishments, in the name of promoting tourism. -------------------------------------- The Navhind Times 20/4/09 page 02 -------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------ GOA CIVIC AND CONSUMER ACTION NETWORK ----------------------------------------------------------- promoting civic and consumer rights in Goa ----------------------------------------------------------- GOACAN Post Box 187 Margao, Goa 403 601 GOACAN Post Box 78 Mapusa, Goa 403 507 mailto: [email protected] ----------------------------------------------------------
