PANAJI
The Forest Department has raised strong objections to the proposed maintenance dredging at the mouth of the Chapora River, citing the lack of an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) study to assess its impact on the turtle nesting beaches of Morjim and Mandrem.
In a submission to the Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority (GCZMA), the department has also highlighted that the Captain of Ports -- the project implementing agency -- intends to use the dredged sand for construction purpose, in violation of the Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) guidelines, according to which sand mining through beach is banned.
The CoP department had approached GCZMA for CRZ clearance to undertake maintenance dredging at the mouth of river Chapora. The Authority decided to seek comments from the Forest Department, before granting permission to CoP, to understand whether there could be any disturbance to the turtle nesting sites of Mandrem and Morjim in the course of carrying out the dredging activities.
The Forest Department informed GCZMA that Morjim beach, which is located near the proposed dredging site, is a designated turtle nesting beach and it is apprehended that dredging in the river may affect the stability of the nearby beaches, including the Morjim beach.
“It is therefore requested that the GCZMA may advise the CoP department to undertake EIA study through a reputed institution to find out the impact of the project on the Morjim and Mandrem turtle nesting beaches,” the department said.
The department also highlighted that the river Island located near the proposed dredging site is an important site for roosting for migratory birds and is an important avifauna habitat. “Hence, the CoP may be also advised to conduct an EIA study to find out the impact of the project on river Island also,” the forest department added.
It also said that as per proposal, CoP envisages storing the dredged sand near the Vagator beach and using the dredged sand for construction purposes. “The same may be re-examined by GCZMA with reference to the provisions of the CRZ notification, which prohibits such sand mining in Goa,” it said.
Earlier, the GCZMA expert members conducted site inspection and observed that the site falls in CRZ IV area as per CRZ notification 2011 and the proposed estimated quantity to be dredged is 1,25,000 cubic metres and for area of 1000 metres in length, 50 metres in width and depth of 2.50 metres.
The coastal body was of the opinion that the dredging depth be reassessed by limiting to the actual minimum requirement such that the dredging volume can be minimized.
The CoP had in 2011-12 undertaken maintenance dredging work of the river and the quantity of approximately 33,000 cubic metres was dredged and in 2018-19, 10,5000 cubic metres was dredged.
