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Dear Chief Minister:
Thank you for your response to my query.
In today's news we read the following:
DO WE CARE ABOUT GOA? Betalbatim is just another example of the indifference shown by the authorities towards Goa's main treasure - the while pristine beaches. No one cares and no one is bothering to step in and halt the destruction. A similar case was felt in Candolim, with the grounding of the MV River Princess. Arambol beach, which was once largely unspoilt, is utterly disgusting with one large slum on the northern wide. Anjuna beach is slowly disappearing due to the reclamation by the raging seas.All these beaches are classic example of the ineptitude the government is showing towards protecting its won natural treasures. (Edit in Herald)
BEACH EROSION: WHO CARES? When the beach gets eroded, endangering thousands
of standing casuarinas trees, one would presume that the departments of
Tourism, Forest and Agriculture would come into play. But ask officials of
these departments on the danger posed to the Sunset beach at Betalbatim, and
they seem to have no answer other than passing the buck on each other. (Herald)
Sir:
Tourists come to Goa primarily for our beaches. Pure and simple.
Not for our IFFI or for anything else.
Why do we continue to destroy our tourist industry? Only the people of Goa will suffer ultimately.
Tim de Mello [EMAIL PROTECTED]
P.S. This note is also being circulated to others - mainly our Goan diaspora.
From: "Chief Minister of Goa" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: "Tim de Mello" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: Reply Date: Tue, 1 Jun 2004 10:10:25 +0530
Dear Shri De Mello,
I acknowledge with thanks your email dated 16th April, 2004 on Anjuna Cliff Crumbling into the Sea. The matter was also brought to my notice for appropriate steps to prevent further damage by Shri Dayanand Mandrekar, Minister (Agriculture). I have already directed Collector to initiate action and will ensure that further erosion is prevented.
With regards,
Yours sincerely,
Mayuresh Khaunte
Spl. Assistant to Chief Minister
----- Original Message -----
From: Tim de Mello
To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Sent: Friday, April 16, 2004 10:02 AM
Subject: ANJUNA CLIFF CRUMBLING INTO THE SEA
The following was posted on Goa-Net ============ April 16, 2004 12:27:04 AM
ANJUNA CLIFF CRUMBLING INTO THE SEA: Once the cradle of tourism n Goa,
Anjuna is now literally falling part. The magnificent cliff with a
commanding view of the sea is slowly but surely, falling victim to the
powerful waves that lash its face during the monsoons. Menino Fernandes, who
owns the Victor Guest House at St Anthony Praias Vaddo, has been watching
the cliff being eroded over the past decade. Standing in front of the
guesthouse, which overlooks the cliff, Fernandes points to a rock jutting
out of the sea, 50 metres away from the cliff base, saying, "That is where
the cliff was years ago. Look where it is now." "I live in fear, my family
lives in fear and my guests live in fear," he adds as three young tourists
point to the crack while walking by. "If the government can spend so many
crores on the film festival can they not spare Rs.3.5 crore to ensure that
we can live safely?" (Reuven Proenca in GT)
==================================
The erosion along Anjuna beach has been documented at length both in the
press and by written appeals to the the Anjuna Panchayat, the Anjuna Police
and to the Chief Minister. The main and primary cause for this erosion is
the illegal beach sand extraction that continues to take place - now using
trucks. An Anjuna panchyat member confided in me that they are powerless to
do anything as the sand extractors line the Minister's pockets.
It appears that no one in a position of power is interested in protecting
the beach and that Anjuna beach is now considered a "dispensible beach".
If the villagers of Anjuna are interested in preserving their beach and
coast line they must mobilize themselves and stop the these people from
taking sand from the beach. No one else will do it for them. As long as they
take a susegaad approach to this destruction, in a few years the beach will
be de-nuded of its sand cover. Tourists will stop coming to this area. And
who will be be the people who will suffer most? The Anjuncars, of course.
Tim de Mello [EMAIL PROTECTED]
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