the goan I network
PANAJI
Call it Climate Change, rising levels or ferocity of the seas, or by any other name, erosion which is devastating beaches across Goa’s sandy coastline hogged one-third of Question Hour on the opening day of the Monsoon Session on Monday.
The discussion ended with Chief Minister Pramod Sawant promising the House that his government will work on an urgent basis to permanently take on board a scientific agency which will advise the government on what best remedial measure to adopt in each case of beach erosion.
“I cannot assure you it will be done within the next six months. It may take some time but the government will get down to taking the agency on board as soon as possible,” Sawant said in response to a flurry of supplementaries posed by multiple legislators.
Responding to a question by Congress-turned-BJP legislator Isidore Fernandes on an ‘incomplete’ retaining wall at Galgibaga beach, Sawant said before deciding on what intervention to make, a proper scientific study would be most prudent to pin-point the best solution to the problem.
“The ‘rubble walls’ are proving to be more effective. We should not simply go in for concrete retaining walls. There are other options too,” Sawant said, adding that the on-board scientific agency will have to conduct the study, identify the best solution and prepare an action-plan including cost estimation before the Water Resources Department can tender the work.
Until now, the State government used to rely on Pune-based Central Water and Power Research Station (CWPRS) for such advise on a case to case basis, he said.
