Goemkarponn desk
VASCO: Cortalim MLA Antonio Vas held an inspection at a Shipping dock in Sancoale to check the alleged ongoing dredging activity at Sancoale bay.
Vas has instructed the dock manager to stop the work and produce the permissions from the local governing bodies and other concerned departments to resume the work.
After the people from Sancoale raised the alarm about the dredging activity happening in the Sancoale bay area by one shipping dock, Cortalim MLA Antonio Vas, along with the residents, visited the site and asked the dock manager to show the permissions obtained by him to do the dredging work.
Vas later informed reporters that the dock manager has obtained permission from GCZMA but has not taken permission from the Panchayat, WRD, TCP, Revenue Department etc.
He further said that he had instructed the Police Inspector of Verna to stop this dredging work. The dock manager has been asked to take all permissions from the concerned authorities, including Panchayat, to resume the work.
Earlier on Sunday, some residents of Sancoale, along with Fr. Bolmax Pereira, Congress leader Viriato Fernandes, Olencio Simoes and others, had come to see the alleged dredging activity ongoing in the Sancoale bay area.
Congress leader Viriato Fernandes questioned how a dredging activity could be taken up in the bay area, which is ecologically sensitive and a breeding ground for the Windowpane oysters, clams etc.
He said that the youths and the locals did mangrove plantation recently in the wetland area of this stretch, and within a few days, the dredging had started, which will hamper the growth and survival of these mangroves.
Fr. Bolmax Pereira also condemned such activity ongoing covertly in such ecologically fragile areas wherein many locals come to collect clams and oysters during the low tide of the sea. He also questioned whether the dock operators have got the necessary permissions to undertake dredging activity in the area from all the competent authorities.
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