HomeInfrastructureGoa Arabian Sea cyclones double in 15 years coastal communities face mounting...
Goa Arabian Sea cyclones double in 15 years coastal communities face mounting climate crisis
Goa In a concerning trend for the coastal state climate experts revealed that cyclones in the Arabian Sea have doubled over the last 15 years significantly impacting livelihoods and ecological balance. Soumya Dutta an international climate expert and co-convener of the South Asian Peoples Action on Climate Crisis stated that the region once considered non cyclone prone is now witnessing a steep rise in extreme weather events.
Speaking at a climate crisis meeting organised by the National Alliance for Climate and Ecological Justice in Margao Dutta shared that frequent warnings from the IMD due to increased cyclone activity have led to a 20 to 25 percent drop in fishing operations across Goa. This has had a direct effect on the income and sustenance of coastal fishing communities.
He also highlighted the vulnerability of other informal sector workers including hawkers rickshaw drivers and construction labourers due to worsening heatwaves and rising temperatures. Meanwhile beach erosion has become a daily challenge in many parts of the Goan coast.
Criticising the lack of robust Environmental and Social Impact Assessments Dutta flagged that several large infrastructure projects in Goa are moving ahead without legal scrutiny. He also criticised the Union Ministry of Environment Forest and Climate Change for not recognising heatwaves as a national disaster despite their growing intensity.
Activists at the meeting raised various local issues including threats to Goa’s green cover illegal sand mining destruction of sand dunes and mangrove clearing. Domnic Fernandes mentioned the use of heavy machinery like JCBs to flatten natural dunes in Candolim. Tausif Nandhalli spoke of garbage mismanagement and hill cutting activities damaging his village.
Participants also raised concerns about the neglect of village-level bodies in urban planning decisions. Joycee Dias from Sao Jose De Areal village expressed frustration that the Town and Country Planning Department bypasses panchayats leading to irreversible village degradation.
Other activists emphasised the need to preserve comunidade land and called for scientific water mapping as Goa faces water scarcity. There were also calls to protect the Mhadei Wildlife Sanctuary and Talpona River as vital ecological zones.
The gathering concluded with demands for strict enforcement of tenancy laws protection of biodiversity and climate resilience planning in development strategies. Legal expert Albertina Almeida criticised recent environmental permissions favouring polluting industries and warned of long term damage without public consultation or climate risk assessments.
Goa Arabian Sea cyclones double in 15 years coastal communities face mounting climate crisis
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