Bambolim beach digging site inspected

Panaji: The Tiswadi mamlatdar’s office conducted an inspection of the alleged excavation in the tidal zone by a hotel at Bambolim to construct a retaining wall in violation of coastal regulations zone (CRZ) notification.
Acting on a media report and a complaint by local activist, Ramrao Wagh, the talathi inspected the site and prepared a report.
“I am surprised that I was not called for the inspection, though I have been told talathi’s report is available under the RTI Act,” Wagh said.
The work to build a new wall had been going on for some time. St Andre MLA, Viresh Borkar and other activists had rushed to the site after Wagh’s complaint of use of heavy machinery on the beach.
The hotel said that it has approvals from Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority (GCZMA) for building the wall, but no details were available. Mamlatdar has referred the matter to GCZMA to verify if there is a violation.
In another complaint, Goa Green Brigade, a voluntary organisation has alleged that the digging and wall collapse has impacted the Bambolim beach profile. “It has led to the destruction of native beach crabs and windowpane oysters breeding ground,” it stated.
The Zuari bay was a habitat of the endangered windowpane oysters.
Flattening of sand dunes with heavy machinery for development destabilises the shoreline due to loss of native coastal vegetation. “Disruption of natural monsoon drainage systems increases risk of coastal erosion and flooding,” the complaint states.