Constructions found on sand dunes of 2 Salcete beaches

Panaji: The Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority (GCZMA) has found violations on Varca and Cavelossim beaches in Salcete, where illegal construction was carried out destroying sand dunes and sand dune vegetation.

The tourism department made a complaint to the GCZMA last year, stating that vehicles are plying illegally on Varca beach and extracting sand, altering natural features like sand dunes.

Following the complaint, the authority experts carried out a site inspection, which confirmed “gross illegalities at Pedda, Dumottem”.

The violations were observed to have been carried out near a resort.

“It was observed that sand was being illegally extracted from the sand dune and mixed with laterite soil (red murram) at the site. A permanent platform is observed at the location, along with few temporary structures. Red murram is extensively dumped at the site, altering the natural landscape,” the inspection report stated.

The report also said that, in the intertidal zone of the beach, metal-fabricated barricades and huge black bags filled with sand were found dumped. “The sacks were seen obstructing free beach access and impacting the natural movement of water, sand, and marine life,” as per the inspection report by GCZMA expert members.

The authority has accordingly issued show cause notice to the violators and begun proceedings.

In the second case, the complaint was made by Benaulim MLA Venzy Veigas last year, stating that illegal construction of a road was being carried out by violators in no development zone of CRZ in Cavelossim. The complaint stated that the road was being constructed by cutting sand dunes and destroying thick vegetation in four survey numbers.

GCZMA carried out a site inspection, which confirmed the “gross illegal” construction in violation of CRZ Notification of 2011.

The road was already completed at the time of the construction. It was built connecting the existing village road and ended at the beach.

Following the inspection, the GCZMA issued notices to the violators to begin proceedings against the illegalities.
Get real-time updates and result insights on the Karnataka SSLC Result 2026, UP Board Result 2026, UP Board 10th Result 2026 and UP Board 12th Result 2026