PANAJI
As Goa’s beaches being vulnerable to sand erosion, the Chennai-based National Centre for Sustainable Coastal Management (NCSCM), has been roped in to investigate the causes for changing shoreline pattern.
The NCZMA, which has to map the changing shoreline using Satellite images, has to submit its report within eight months.
Director Environment Dr Sneha Gitte in a work order issued to NCZMA on December 8, has directed preparation of Shoreline Change Mapping of Goa on 1:25,000 scale for Coastal Zone Management Plan (CZMP) 2019 and on 1:4000 scale based on the CRZ notification 2019.
The scope of the work includes analysing the shoreline change pattern and investigating the causes for the same. The agency has to extract the shoreline along the main coast from Satellite images or aerial orthophotos of selected periodic or historic images from the year 2011-2022 for the main coast excluding rivers, creeks, etc.
The NCZMA has to submit a detailed report along with the database and maps. In the first round, the agency has to submit draft shoreline change maps on the 1:25,000 scale as per CZMP grid, followed by final maps.
Sources informed that as per the CRZ notification 2019, the CZMP needs to include mapping of erosion prone areas and preparation of shoreline management plan for such identified eroding stretches.
The NCZMA, who had already undertaken the study of over 40 beaches in Goa, during the CZMP 2011, had pointed out that sand erosion on 21 beaches. Most of the beaches which saw erosion were located in South Goa, including Betalbatim, Canaguinnim, Cansaulim, Patnem, Sernabatim, Talpona, Utorda and Velsao.
In North, the erosion was seen on the beaches of Ashvem, Querim, Sinquerim and Vagator
