TNN | Aug 10, 2014, 02.15 AM ISTMAPUSA: Fifteen meter long sand dunes, that act as a barrier to the rising sea level, at Morjim beach have been washed away due to the wrath of the sea, endangering the lives of locals living along the coast. The local fishing community in Velsao witnessed a similar situation where in the rough waters of the Arabian Sea have almost reached the threshold of their homes.
Sources said that, in the month of June, the rising water level posed an imminent danger to about 50 fishing huts in Morjim. This situation was inspected by panchayat minister Laxmikant Parsekar and water resources department officials and as a temporary measure, sand bags were placed along the coastline to prevent damage caused by raging sea waves. "The intense waves have broken through the sand bag barrier and eroded all the sand dunes. The water, having already destroyed two-meter tall sand dunes, is heading towards the settlements along the coast," sources said.
"I have lived here for nearly 47 years and I have never seen the water level rise to such an extent. It is nearly 20m ahead of normal," said an elderly villager, as she collected useful items from the debris of a destroyed hut.
Sources added that last year, during the monsoon, rising sea levels had flooded fishing huts and washed away canoes and boats. Traditional fishermen from Morjim have repeatedly urged the state government to construct a fishing jetty at Tembwada or Vithaldaswada so as to facilitate their fishing business and save loss caused due to damage to the boats.
The fishing community living along the coast of the Cansaulim-Velsao beach stretch claim that this is not a normal phenomenon and that if sea water level continues to rise it could rob the villagers of their livelihood. http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/goa/Morjim-Velsao-locals-panic-as-waves-destroy-sand-dunes-head-for-homes/articleshow/39969167.cms
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