PANAJI
The Goa government on Friday announced that it would undertake a detailed study on coastal erosion by involving scientific agencies such as the National Institute of Oceanography (NIO), to prepare a comprehensive proposal to be submitted to the Centre.
Chief Minister Pramod Sawant, speaking during a Calling Attention motion tabled by Saligao MLA Kedar Naik in the Legislative Assembly, said that the State is committed to tackling the issue with a long-term strategy.
“We will rope in the NIO and other concerned agencies to conduct a study on coastal erosion. Based on their findings, a joint proposal drafted by all relevant departments will be submitted to the Government of India.... We are serious about this issue and a long-term plan is in the pipeline. The government will take all necessary measures to protect the environment,” Sawant said.
Naik raised concern over severe beach erosion following heavy monsoon rains, which he said have washed away large amounts of sand, raising fears among fishermen and tourists. He urged the government to take immediate action, including planting protective vegetation and curbing further degradation. His concerns found support from legislators across party lines.
The Chief Minister further informed the House that the Department of Environment and Climate Change had already conducted a study through the National Centre for Sustainable Coastal Management (NCSCM), while a report on shoreline changes along Goa’s coast is currently being prepared.
“As per directions issued by the National Green Tribunal (NGT), hard structures like seawalls and groynes need to be replaced with softer, more sustainable measures such as beach nourishment and sand bypassing. To explore such sustainable interventions, the government has engaged Deltares, a Netherlands-based institute specialising in hydraulic engineering and coastal research,” he said.
The Goa Coastal and Environment Management Society, along with the Environment Department, has approved Deltares’ proposal to assess the feasibility of using ‘sand motor’ technology to mitigate coastal erosion in Goa.
A committee comprising nodal officers from various national institutes has been formed to examine all existing erosion and accretion reports, conduct field verification, and draft a consensus document. The committee is also tasked with identifying suitable coastal stretches for a pilot implementation of the sand motor project.
Two meetings on April 24 and July 8 have been held so far to finalise the coastal areas where the pilot project will be executed.
In addition, the Water Resources Department has completed a study titled ‘Integrated River Basin and Shoreline Management Plan for Goa’ under the National Hydrology Project. The study was carried out by the National Institute of Ocean Technology (NIOT) between July 2020 and February 2025.
The written reply stated that the Environment Department has also prepared several other ecological plans “ including Khazan Land Management, Mangrove Management, and Turtle Nesting Plans “ and is working on a Comprehensive Plan for fishermen communities.
Sawant added that the State has also engaged CSIR-NIO to prepare an Ecologically Sensitive Area (ESA) Management Plan. The plan will cover critical habitats such as islands, coral reefs, sand dunes, salt marshes, seagrass beds, horseshoe crab habitats, bird nesting grounds, biologically active mudflats, heritage sites, and protected areas under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, Forest (Conservation) Act, and Environment (Protection) Act.
