Connect with us

Top Stories

Goa: Four turtle-nesting beaches silent zones | Goa News – Times of India

Published

on

[ad_1]

PANAJI: Turtle nesting sites at Morjim and Mandrem in Pernem, North Goa, and Agonda and Galgibaga in Canacona, South Goa, have been declared ‘silence zones’ by the Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority (GCZMA).
The decision, taken at the coastal authority’s November 26 meeting, comes after the National Green Tribunal (NGT) on October 21 upheld the GCZMA’s order asking for demolition of all structures encroaching on the CRZ region of these turtle nesting sites.
The NGT in its order had asked that besides the demolition of violating structures there should be no artificial lighting or litter along the turtle nesting beaches.
“Goa is fortunate to have some of the beaches which are preferred by sea turtles, particularly Olive Ridley turtles, for laying their eggs, therefore, every effort is required to be made by the authorities concerned to keep such beaches undisturbed and in pristine condition,” the NGT bench had said.
Goa’s flippered friends probably stumbled upon the beaches of Morjim in North Goa and Agonda and Galgibaga several hundred years ago as an ideal nesting ground. But it is in the late 1990s that the systematic efforts to protect these turtle nesting sites began in Goa. And, appreciably, the efforts began from the community, who have since been amply supported by the state forest department officials in the task.
Olive Ridley Turtles are one of the most abundant sea turtles on earth, but now part from predators and change in climatic conditions, which is altering their nesting cycles, humans remain the number one threat to this species.
Goa receives these visitors from around October to late March-early April each year.
The October NGT order has also aptly said that sheds, sunbeds on the beaches of Morjim, Mandrem, Agonda and Galgibaga should be removed before the turtle nesting season begins.
“There should not be any structures, whether temporary or permanent, to be erected in such beaches and no artificial lighting or food articles or litter to be allowed to be thrown in these beaches. Artificial lights disturb the turtles since they are extremely sensitive as they are guided by natural light and moon lights. And there should not be any litter on the beaches which would attract unwanted predators,” the NGT order read.
Though Goa doesn’t get the large numbers like in Orissa, it is significant that these creatures, with their round, heart-shaped carapace, have not missed a date with the state’s beaches for decades, even though tourism has increased the human activity in Morjim and Galgibaga manifolds over the years.

[ad_2]

Source link

Special Stories

Broke Swiggy guy walks 3 km to deliver food, Social media helps him find better job. Heartwarming story is viral

Published

on

Social media can be a wondrous place at times. While on most days, its ugly face is on display, on days like today, it sets examples of the power of kindness. In a social media post, a LinkedIn user shared how a delivery executive, in need of money and a better job, bagged one after the users on the platform came together to help the person out.

Priyanshi Chandel, Marketing Manager at tech company Flash, shared an incident about a Swiggy delivery agent who had come to deliver food at her residence. When she asked the late and out-of-breath delivery person, identified by her as Sahil Singh, about what happened, he told her that he had no transport and had to walk 3 km to deliver the order.

He also said that he was out of money and had nothing left to pay his landlord too. Singh told her that he was not looking for money from her but requested her to help him bag a job. He said that he had a degree in Electrical and Communication Engineering, and had worked with Byju’s and Ninjacart before. He had to move back to Jammu during the pandemic.

“I have not eaten for a week, just drinking water and tea to get by. I am not asking for anything, please if you can find me a job, I used to make 25k before, I am 30 years old, my parents are getting old and I can’t keep asking for money from them (sic),” Chandel quoted saying.

She also shared his marksheets and contact number for people to help. His details shared show that he is a 2018 BTech graduate from Mewar University, and completed his schooling from the Jammu and Kashmir state board.

After she shared the details, the comments section was filled with people who stepped up to help. While someone recharged his Yulu account so that he did not have to walk around to deliver food, someone offered a place to stay. Many offered to help him with his applications, while some offered jobs too.

Chandel, later on put an update on the post, and said that he received a job.

However, so far it is unclear what job he has received.

2023 has so far been a year of job losses, an eventual outcome of the pandemic and increased hiring by tech companies. For instance, the SSC MTS 2023 recruitment exam that took place in Uttar Pradesh in May saw over 55 lakh applications for Group D jobs. Numerous candidates who applied for positions such as peon, watchman, gardener had educational backgrounds like BTech, MBA, and Master’s degrees.

Continue Reading

Top Stories

Goa CM, NRI Commissioner writes to MoEF for help in safe return of Goans from Ukraine

Published

on

Panaji: Goa chief minister Dr Pramod Sawant on Thursday urged Union Minister for External Affairs Dr S Jaishankar to help in safe return of Goans who are in the Ukraine.

Sawant tweeted “we are concerned about the Goans in Ukraine who are considering to return to India in the light of ongoing Russia-Ukraine crisis. I request Union Minister for External Affairs @DrSJaishankar ji for help in the safe return of Goans. I am keeping track of the situation.”

The chief minister’s tweet comes hours after Goa’s NRI Commissioner Narendra Sawaikar wrote to the Union External Affairs ministry seeking help in return of Goans who are in the Ukraine.

“Many Goans are currently residing in Ukraine due to various purposes including higher studies and due to the ongoing tension between Russia and Ukraine, I have started receiving requests for help and assistance from them to return back to India,” Sawaikar wrote.

The Commissioner further wrote in the letter that advisories have already been issued by the Ministery of External Affairs to Indians currently in Ukraine and our Indian Mission in Kyiy is currently handling the matter.

“Striking note of urgency, the Government of India has recently asked the family members of Embassy officials in Ukraine as well as students and citizens whose stay is not vital , to leave the Eastern European nation amid it’s raising tensions with Russia,” the letter reads.

Sawaikar wrote that the Goans in Ukraine are in touch with this office as they are anxious to temporarily return till the situation normalizes.

Continue Reading

Top Stories

Election Commission announces polling dates and counting days for Vidhan Sabha elections in 5 states

Published

on

On Saturday, the Election Commission of India (ECI) announced the dates for the Vidhan Sabha elections in 5 States, namely, Goa, Punjab, Manipur, Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand.

While briefing the media, Chief Election Commissioner Sushil Chandra informed that the elections in the poll-bound States will commence from February 10, 2022, to March 7, 2022. Elections in the State of Uttar Pradesh will be conducted in 7 phases, followed by Manipur with 2 phases. Elections in Goa, Uttarkhand and Punjab will be conducted in a single phase.

According to the Election Commission of India, the votes will be counted on March 10, 2022. ECI informed that all physical campaigning will be ceased until January 15, 2022, in light of the rising cases of Coronavirus.

Continue Reading
Advertisement

Trending