Margao Climate Meet Warns of Arabian Sea Cyclone Rise, Coastal Erosion Crisis
Amid growing ecological threats, a climate justice meeting in Margao has spotlighted the sharp rise in Arabian Sea cyclones and their devastating effects on Goa’s coastal communities. With expert insights and citizen testimonies, the discussion highlighted the double impact of extreme weather and policy inaction—from beach erosion and sea encroachment to disrupted livelihoods. Participants called for urgent environmental accountability, pointing to rampant unregulated development, ignored climate assessments, and inadequate protection for vulnerable rural and coastal zones.
Experts at the Margao gathering flagged a 100% increase in cyclone activity in the Arabian Sea over the last 15 years, warning that Goa’s coastal villages are already bearing the brunt. The rise in climate-linked disasters has significantly disrupted the livelihoods of fisherfolk, hawkers, and informal workers, with frequent IMD alerts causing a 20–25% drop in fishing activities. Heatwaves and daily coastal erosion are reshaping village life, while aggressive development continues without adequate Environmental or Social Impact Assessments. Concerns were also raised about growing infrastructure pressure—like railway expansion, sand mining, and large-scale real estate construction—dividing villages and displacing ecosystems. Authorities were criticised for failing to recognise these as part of the national disaster discourse, despite mounting climate evidence. Participants emphasised that the current pace of exploitation is pushing Goa toward irreversible ecological breakdown, particularly if dune systems, wetlands, and mangroves continue to be destroyed without scientific planning or legal oversight.
The meeting also exposed widespread dissatisfaction with how village communities are excluded from key decisions shaping Goa’s land and water use. Attendees raised concerns about unconsulted land acquisitions for mega projects, unchecked real estate targeting comunidade land, and the misuse of panchayat permissions bypassing ecological safeguards. Citing the state’s own climate action plan, speakers warned that 15% of Goa’s landmass could be lost due to unchecked environmental degradation. Issues like forest fires, fragmented river systems, and artificial alteration of sand dunes were framed as symptoms of deeper systemic neglect. Citizens pointed to deteriorating tenancy rights and insufficient legal protection of ecologically fragile zones, from wildlife corridors to river origins in the Western Ghats. Demands included scientific water mapping, the declaration of tiger reserves for biodiversity preservation, and full protection of traditional land rights. The assembly collectively urged immediate, science-backed reforms before Goa’s natural and cultural landscapes vanish beyond recovery.
The Margao climate assembly laid bare the urgency of environmental action in Goa, where cyclonic threats, rising seas, and rapid development are colliding with poor governance and community exclusion. As traditional livelihoods erode and vital ecosystems vanish, the call from citizens and environmental experts is clear: Goa’s climate response must prioritise sustainable planning, transparent decision-making, and legal accountability. With projections of land loss and resource depletion looming large, safeguarding the state’s ecological future requires not just policy reform, but a fundamental shift in how development is balanced with environmental justice and community resilience.
