Canacona Muncipal Corporation doesn't want more beach shacks

CMC doesn't want more beach shacks

TNN

PANAJI: Even as coastal villagers in the north have been striving to obtain permissions for an additional number of shacks on its beaches this season, those residing in Canacona prefer otherwise.

They fear that soil erosion along Canacona's beaches could cause a serious ecological imbalance if not tackled by the concerned authorities.

Information obtained under the Right To Information (RTI) reveals that on September 30, 2009, the chief officer of the Canacona Municipal Council wrote to the Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority (GCZMA) that the shacks allotted are in violation of the Environment Protection Act.

"There is no beach cleanliness system maintained by the tourism department. No lifeguards are available and no sweepers are visible throughout the tourist season (at Canacona), which are the basic requirements before offering the new shack policy. Beach shacks allotted are in total violation of the Environment Protection Act as there is no waste water disposal facility available on the beaches," the letter states.

It further notes, "There are more than 20 shacks allowed by the municipal council to private owners. The Palolem beach is very close to the high tide line (HTL) and the issuance of another 20 shacks by the tourism department on the beaches is not required at Palolem." In 2008, there were 8 shacks at Palolem.

The letter states that shacks could even be damaged during high tide. "There is soil erosion on beaches which is not taken care of by the tourism department and, as such, there is every possibility of causing imbalance of the ecology," the letter notes.

It further added that although the Palolem, Patnem and Rajbag beach stretch is more than 1km long, lifeguards are based only at the centre of the stretch, making it impossible to rescue people drowning elsewhere. It had been suggested that four-wheel drive vehicles and jet skis be provided to the lifeguards there.

In its meeting on October 1 to discuss the shack policy, the GCZMA has made it clear that the department of tourism is required to maintain all specific conditions pertaining to beach management, garbage management and eco sensitive conservation.

Meanwhile, Shack Owners' Welfare Society (SOWS) president Cruz Cardozo said, "We had asked for more shacks in a few places at Canacona. But our demand had not been met. We don't know the exact cause. We were fighting for more shacks in Calangute and Candolim and managed to get a few more allotted here. Next year, we will ensure that more shacks are allotted at other places, as there is scope for the business."

October 23,2009, The Times of India, Goa edition

RTI helps in revealing illegality in Goa

PANJIM: The stone crushers, which destroyed the lives of Saleli residents forcing them to raise their head in revolt against their khase, were operating illegally in orchard and agricultural zone.

The fact that several metal industries were operating illegally is not new. The villagers were always alleging the same. But now its official: of the 13 stone crushers (metal industries), four were operating in orchard and cultivable zone as per Regional Plan 2001and there are no records available about 5 stone crushers.

Information received from the office of the Senior Town Planner, North Goa District level office of TCP, Mapusa, under the Right to Information Act reveal this. Dr Claude Alvares, Director, The Goa Foundation, had asked information regarding nine stone crushers operating in the village. Dr Alvares is helping Saleli villagers in their fight against stone crushers and quarrying.

While M/s Souparnika Metal Industries (survey no 73/1), M/s Madhav Rameshwar Industries (survey no 62/1 (p)) and M/s Rehamaniya Metal Industries (survey no 75/1(P)) were operating in orchard zone, M/s Shani Metal Industries (survey no 55/0) was existing in the cultivable land as well as on survey no 62/1, which is party orchard and partly cultivable land.

Shockingly, there are no records about the other four metal industries—M/s Kane Metal Industries, M/s Rudrashwar Metal Industries, M/s Parvati Enterprises, M/s Laxmi Metal Industries and M/s Foures Metal Industries, which have been operating in the village. "The details of other industries are not furnished as the same are not available in the Taluka office of Bicholim," said James Mathew, STP and PIO, North Goa District level office of TCP, Mapusa in his reply to Dr Alvares.

Infact, in January 2006, Dr Alvares had brought to the notice of the Deputy Collector and SDM Bicholim that the stone crushers were operating illegally without providing wind-breaking walls and the quarrying operations that feed the stone crushers were operating in the forest area, a zone that doesn't permit such activities. He had also pointed out that the constant dynamiting operations for quarrying was illegal as it is not permitted near settlements and irrigation canals.

However, the metal industries lobby's stand: we are right and operating in the industrial area. Even in their reply in the court of SDM Bicholim they stated that all allegations are baseless and unwarranted. "The quarries are being operated since long by obtaining necessary leases from Mines department," they argued. Some from the metal industries lobby also submitted that the area occupied by the stone crushing units have been converted into "industrial" by the competent authorities.

Now with hard facts glaring at the face of the sanctioning authorities, one just hopes that Saleli residents struggle may finally end with the closure of illegally operating stone crushers.

(An earlier version of the article appeared in Gomantak Times, Panjim,11 August 2007)