GCZMA requests forest dept’s opinions to ascertain Chapora dredging does not affect turtle nesting site

Panaji: The Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority (GCZMA) has requested the forest department’s opinion on the proposal of the Captain of Ports (CoP) to dredge the mouth of River Chapora, regarding the impact of such a project on Olive Ridley turtle nesting sites at Morjim and Mandrem.
“The authority after reviewing the CoP’s presentation, opined that explicit comments are obtained from forest department so that there is no disturbance for the turtle nesting areas of Mandrem and Morjim during dredging activities,” the GCZMA said at its recent meeting. The CoP had informed GCZMA that the dredging was necessary due to sand accumulation reducing the depth at the mouth of Chapora river, creating navigational hazards.
The CoP also said that dredging is required for safe navigation of fishing trawlers at all tides. Maintenance dredging was carried out before in 2011-12 and 2018-19.
An expert committee of GCZMA inspected the Chapora river site based on CoP’s dredging proposal and recommended reassessing the dredging depth to minimise the dredging volume, limiting it to the minimum requirement.
The committee stated that the environmental impact assessment (EIA) must also be carried out, during the dredging and after it.
The GCZMA expert committee emphasised that the impact on hydrodynamics and geomorphology of the channel and adjoining areas and the adjacent coast/bank should be estimated before dredging. It also recommended assessing the impact on sediment movement, erosion/accretion, and aquatic/marine biota.
The site inspection occurred on Oct 1, 2024.