PANAJI
The Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority (GCZMA) has directed the River Navigation Department (RND) to undertake a rapid Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) study for its proposed reconstruction and extension of its existing jetty in Panaji, opposite the Old Secretariat building.
During its meeting held earlier this month, the proposed jetty project – extension of the existing RCC jetty – adjacent to survey nos. 35/37 and 35/38 in Panaji has been held up by the authority pending rapid EIA study.
According to official records, the site is located along the Mandovi River, barely about 9.20 metres from the river’s periphery, and is classified as a “jetty” area falling entirely under CRZ–IVB as per the Coastal Zone Management Plan (CZMP) 2011. The location is accessible via a PWD road and does not have sand dunes or vegetation, while other water bodies are present in the plot area.
During the site inspection carried out by the expert members, mangrove vegetation was observed along the periphery of the proposed site.
After a detailed discussion and deliberation, the
Authority accepted the inspecting team’s recommendation and decided that a rapid EIA report must be submitted before granting any approval to the project.
“Rapid EIA is needed to check that extending the jetty does not harm river ecology, benthos, mangroves and marine life and that all environmental rules are followed,” the Authority noted.
Project documents indicate that the proposed jetty is L-shaped, with two arms measuring 25 metres and 15 metres respectively, meeting at right angles. The main jetty deck is planned with a width of 5 metres, a narrower deck portion of 3.9 metres and a widened platform section of 10 metres. The structure is proposed to be constructed using M35 grade concrete and TMT Fe 500 reinforcement steel, with bollards fixed into the RCC deck and beam system.
