To prevent sand erosion, GFDC seeks to plant cashew saplings

Panaji: The Goa Forest Development Corporation (GFDC) has sought permission from the Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority (GCZMA) to plant cashew saplings in the CRZ areas of Varca, Carmona and Cavelossim to address sand erosion.The GCZMA has decided to call the corporation to make a detailed presentation on the proposal.“The authority received a proposal from the chairman of the GFDC to plant cashew saplings along the no-development zones of the CRZ of Goa. The proposal highlights that such plantations exist in the CRZ areas of Varca, Carmona and Cavelossim and also the fact that such cashew plantations have proven successful in Andhra Pradesh, Odisha and Tamil Nadu for stabilising sand dunes in coastal regions,” the GCZMA noted at its recent meeting.The primary objective of the proposal, GFDC said, is to address the beach and sand dune erosion through such cashew plantations.The corporation proposes to identify sites for plantation in consultation with the authority and the village panchayats. The GFDC will maintain the plantations for three years, it has told the GCZMA.The authority has said it will deliberate and decide on the proposal submitted by the chairman of GFDC, Deviya Rane.