Dear Friends in Goanet, Just to inform you that Times of India wanted my views on whether should there be a reduction in NDZ line along the coastal areas? I have sent the reply to Times of India ( Goa edition) and it is published in the column SHORT NOTES ( (page 5 on 22nd Jan, 2015):
My answer was: No, there should be no reduction in NDZ line along the coastal areas. Before arbitrarily changing the NDZ, we should understand the reason for having an NDZ. The purpose is to protect the environment and the coastal biodiversity. The only people who will benefit from the change are those who already have illegal structures in this area which will be legalized. If such constructions start mushrooming the impact on the environment will be severe. At this rate soon they will try to start construction in the sea itself. Stephen Dias, D.Paula Date: 23.1.2015 On 22 January 2015 at 12:28, roger dsouza <rdsg2...@gmail.com> wrote: > Wendell slams govt on NDZ proposalTNN | Jan 22, 2015 > > PANAJI: Noted fashion designer Wendell Rodricks has questioned the > government's wisdom about coastal disaster mitigation in light of the > recent proposal by the state government asking the Union government for a > reduction in the no-development zones to 100m from 200m from the high tide > line. > > Rodricks, on January 18, reacted to a TOI article on the issue and > commented on his facebook page "If this happens, I am leaving Goa." A > screenshot of which is available with TOI. When contacted, Rodricks said, > "They obviously don't know anything about worldwide coastal disasters." He > also took the government to task for not curbing illegal sand mining along > the Colvale river. "Thanks to the illegal sand dredging in the Colvale > river, the back of our Colvale church is tilting," Rodricks said. > > "If people think that taking away sections of earth in the middle of a > river will not affect the banks and constructions, they are ignorant," the > fashion designer added. tnn > >
