MLA Viegas provides heavy machinery to complete task
A JCB machine is at work at Pedda-Varca to restore the sand dune damaged by unknown persons.
Photo Credits: Santosh Mirajkar
MARGAO
After an uproar over the illegal sand dune cutting by unknown persons, the Varca village Panchayat on Wednesday set in motion the process for the restoration of the sand dune by deploying heavy machinery.
Sarpanch Salesiana Fernandes informed that the restoration work has been initiated by the Panchayat body after intimating the authorities, including the South Goa district Collector and the CRZ authorities.
The restoration work commenced at the site after the village Sarpanch along with her deputy Roland Fernandes, and Benaulim MLA Venzy Viegas descended at the site on Wednesday morning.
The Sarpanch informed that the work would continue at the site till the sand dune is restored, adding that the JCB machine has been provided by MLA Venzy.
The Benaulim MLA patted the Varca Panchayat on its back, saying this is the first time in the history of Goa that a Panchayat body has started restoration work of a sand dune within 24 hours after its attention was drawn to the destruction.
Venzy said the Varca panchayat have set an example before all the elected representatives by starting the restoration work on the sand dune. “In Goa, sand dunes are being cut down by miscreants. I do not know how many panchayats had in the past taken up the work of restoration of sand dunes. We have set a trend. The message is clear that we are serious in restoration and this is a message for all the panchayats”, he said.
“I had raised this question in the Assembly session, wherein I had got a reply saying that a joint meeting of the TCP, Revenue, CRZ would take place to decide on the department which will spend the money for restoration of sand dunes”, he said.
He added: “I had raised the issue in the Assembly since someone is required to foot the bill for the restoration of the sand dune. This is a loophole existing in the existing rules which need to be resolved”, he said, while making a fervent plea to the TCP Minister, Revenue Minister and Minister for Environment to sit across the table and hammer a solution.
Deputy Sarpanch Roland Fernandes said the MLA has helped the Panchayat to take up the restoration work. “It was wrong to cut the sand dune. We have taken immediate action. The restoration work is being executed through proper channel”, Roland added,.
