A sand dune in Varca Pedda has been illegally flattened in a suspected violation of Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) norms, triggering concern among locals and the village panchayat.
The sand dune, which acted as a natural buffer shielding nearby paddy fields from saline water ingress, was reportedly removed without authorization. The motive behind the act is unclear, but the environmental fallout could be significant, particularly with the onset of monsoon and rising sea levels.
Following the incident, the Varca Panchayat initiated suo motu action and lodged formal complaints with the Police, the CRZ Authority, the District Collector, and the Department of Tourism. Panchayat members also conducted a spot inspection to assess the scale of the damage.
Residents fear that without the sand dune, their farmland is now vulnerable to seawater intrusion during high tide or storm surges, which could severely impact crop yield and damage fertile agricultural land in the long run.
The local community and panchayat have called for immediate restoration of the dune and strict action against those responsible. They have also demanded safeguards to prevent further violations along Goa’s ecologically sensitive coastline.
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