PANAJI
The Goa government has notified the classification of the State’s inland waters into three operational zones under the Inland Vessels Act, 2021, days after the High Court of Bombay at Goa suspended all inland water sports activities during the monsoon, citing the absence of notified operational zones under the Tourism Department’s policy.
The notification, issued by the Department of Captain of Ports, classified inland waters into Zone 1, Zone 2 and Zone 3 based on the maximum significant wave height while also laying down the conditions under which different categories of inland vessels may operate.
Zone 1 covers waters where the significant wave height does not exceed two metres, Zone 2 is limited to 1.2 metres and Zone 3 to 0.6 metres. The operational limits are linked to vessel categories prescribed under the Inland Vessels (Design and Construction) Rules, 2024. Category A vessels will be permitted in Zone 1, Category A and B vessels in Zone 2, while all three categories -- A, B and C -- may operate in Zone 3.
The notification also makes prior approval from the CoP mandatory for inland vessels seeking to operate beyond their designated zones within inland waters. It further requires vessels to obtain voyage permission before moving outside their specified inland vessel limits.
The notification further mentions that passenger vessels, tankers, towing operations and other special-category vessels will require separate permission from the CoP and such approvals would depend on several factors, including the area of operation, voyage duration, type of cargo, number of passengers, weather conditions, traffic density, vessel construction, available draft and terminal facilities.
The notification separately identifies operational zones for fair weather (October 1 to May 21) and foul weather (May 22 to September 30). During the monsoon period, Zone 1 and Zone 2 will extend east of the notified line joining specified coordinates, while Zone 3 will comprise all sheltered inland waters of Goa.
The High Court had observed that in the absence of clearly demarcated zones, permitting water sports activities by riverine crafts could pose serious safety risks to tourists, passengers and the general public. It had also restrained the Fisheries Department from issuing any fresh No Objection Certificates for inland water sports till further orders.
The State withdrew its July 5, 2023 notification that had allowed monsoon water sports on inland waterways. In the rescinding notification on July 16, the government acknowledged that although operators were required to obtain an NOC from the Tourism Department before commencing operations, the department had never notified or demarcated the mandatory monsoon water sports zones envisaged under the policy.
