PANAJI
The Goa State Biodiversity Board (GSBB) will take up the restoration of unprotected abandoned laterite quarries in the State, with nearly 20 such sites identified by the North Goa District Mineral Foundation Trust (NGDMFT) for rehabilitation under a proposed Rs 2-crore plan.
The initiative aims to transform long-neglected, water-filled quarries, many of which pose safety risks, into productive community assets through regulated fishing, tourism and other recreational activities, instead of merely fencing off the sites.
Sources said the GSBB would undertake the restoration project using its in-house expertise, with specialised technical assistance from external agencies wherever required. “The proposal is being worked out,” sources said.
The NGDMFT has earmarked an outlay of Rs 2 crore for the rehabilitation plan following an assessment by its Project Management Unit (PMU), which suggested that the abandoned quarries could be scientifically restored and repurposed for productive use.
The proposed approach marks a shift from the government’s earlier plan to fence off the abandoned quarries. The PMU is of the view that these sites could be put to regulated use through appropriate restoration measures, creating opportunities for local communities while addressing the risks posed by open, water-filled excavations.
However, the restoration plan will have to account for the environmental and ecological characteristics of individual sites, including the suitability of water bodies for fishing and recreation.
Under the guidelines of the State Environment Impact Assessment Authority (SEIAA) and State Expert Appraisal Committee (SEAC), project proponents are required to backfill laterite quarries to their original levels and undertake native tree plantations in consultation with the GSBB before the expiry of their Environmental Clearance (EC).
The proposed initiative comes against the backdrop of judicial scrutiny over abandoned and allegedly unauthorised quarrying in Goa.
