Kanakumbi, June 13: A four-day community-led environmental and cultural outreach march, the Rakhandar Padyatra, commenced on Saturday from Kanakumbi, covering ecologically sensitive areas along the Goa-Karnataka-Maharashtra border. The padyatra, organised by social activist Prasad Gawade, will continue till June 16 and aims to create awareness about environmental conservation, protection of natural resources and preservation of the region’s cultural heritage.

The march has brought together environmental activists, local residents and concerned citizens from the three states. Among the participants is Francis Coelho, a core committee member of the Enough is Enough movement, who joined the padyatra to support efforts aimed at safeguarding the Western Ghats and strengthening community participation in environmental protection.

Addressing participants, Coelho appealed to residents of Goa, Karnataka and Maharashtra to join the padyatra at various stages of its journey. He emphasized that protecting forests, water resources, agricultural lands and the cultural identity of local communities requires collective action and public participation.

The organisers stated that the initiative seeks to highlight the growing threats posed by unregulated development and real-estate-driven projects in ecologically fragile regions. They stressed that generations of local communities have protected the forests, rivers and biodiversity of the Western Ghats and that continued vigilance is necessary to preserve these resources for future generations.

The padyatra also aims to strengthen the role of local communities as custodians of their natural and cultural heritage while encouraging greater public awareness on environmental issues affecting the border belt.

The first day’s march began from Kanakumbi and is scheduled to conclude at Karapur. Over the next three days, participants will travel through Keri, Dodamarg, Bhedshi, Sateli, Kudase, Shirwal, Kolzar, Talkat, Asniye, Tamboli, Banda and Vilavade before culminating at Dabhil (Mauli) on June 16.

Organisers clarified that the Rakhandar Padyatra is an open people’s movement and invited citizens from all three states to participate in the march at any point along its route.

The schedule may be revised depending on weather conditions, particularly in the event of heavy rainfall, organisers added.