MARGAO
A delegation of Cavelossim shack owners called on Sarpanch Dixon Vaz on Monday with a plea to ensure that dedicated access to the beach from the main road is provided to the shack owners as well as local people.
The meeting assumes significance and comes against the backdrop of the construction of paved access with drainage underneath.
In fact, allegations have been made on social media that the property owner has constructed the access with pavers and underground drainage to release sewage into the sea.
Sarpanch Dixon Vaz told the media after the meeting that the beach shack owners from Cavelossim had submitted a letter to the panchayat in January last, fearing closure of the traditional access to the beach. They had expressed fears and apprehensions that access would be denied to them by the new hotel management, which would make it difficult for them to run their businesses on the beach, thereby threatening their very livelihood.
Saying that the property owner has left the beach access for public use, he admitted that the owner has laid pavers with an underground drainage pipe. “Since apprehensions have been raised in some quarters that the underground drainage pipe is laid to discharge hotel sewage, it has been decided to direct the owner to remove the underground pipe,” he said.
Vaz added: “It was totally wrong on the part of the owner to lay an underground pipe. We have found out some lapses. We will take a decision to ensure the owner removes the pipe and beach access is left for the shack owners and people.”
