Latest news with #GoaCoastalZoneManagementAuthority
Time of India
5 days ago
- Time of India
Morjim turtle nesting site faced threat from illegal beach shacks last season
Panaji: The forest department's marine range forest officer reported that a number of violations were carried out by illegally operating shacks at the Olive Ridley turtle nesting site at Morjim during the last tourist season. Subsequently, an inspection was conducted by experts from the Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority (GCZMA), which confirmed that two shacks were illegally erected in the area. The inspection report states that the violations included the setting up of two ground floor wooden structures as shacks, two metal fabricated toilets, 38 beach beds covered with 13 temporary sheds, 12 beach beds covered with umbrellas, and eight uncovered beach beds. Morjim is one of only four Olive Ridley turtle nesting sites in Goa. The turtle nesting season coincides with the peak tourist season in Goa from Nov to Feb. Although a part of the beach is protected through fencing to prevent disturbance to the turtle nests, during the last two nesting seasons, turtles were also reported laying eggs outside the fenced area, with nearly 100 eggs in each nest. Such nests are shifted by forest department officials and volunteers to the fenced area for protection. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like American Investor Warren Buffett Recommends: 5 Books For Turning Your Life Around Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List Undo However, shacks in protected areas can disturb the movement of turtles, which are guided by instinct to the coast of their birth to lay eggs. 'Recently, there have also been a couple of incidents of cars being driven on this stretch of Morjim beaches by tourists,' said a local. Based on National Green Tribunal's orders, the turtle nesting sites in Goa were declared silence zones in Dec 2020, with strict regulation of tourism activities. This has led to an increase in nesting over the last couple of years. During the recent season, 18,243 eggs were laid along North Goa's coast, a majority of them in Morjim and Mandrem. However, tourism has also continued to grow manifold simultaneously. Meanwhile, the GCZMA will carry out hearings on the violations in Aug. 'The violating shacks have already been dismantled after the last season ended,' said a local. Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with Friendship Day wishes , messages and quotes !
Time of India
22-07-2025
- General
- Time of India
Assolda p'yat: Curchorem STP obstructs flow of rainwater
Margao: The Assolda panchayat has written to the Sewerage and Infrastructural Development Corporation of Goa Limited (SIDCGL), raising concerns about the construction activities of the sewage treatment plant (STP) at Curchorem. The panchayat pointed out that the ongoing construction work is obstructing the free flow of rainwater, posing flood risks to Hodar. Sarpanch Custodio Fernandes, in his letter to SIDCGL, stated that Hodar, which comes under the Assolda panchayat's jurisdiction, faces the threat of flooding as natural water flow is disrupted by the project activities. The panchayat has requested immediate action. The concerns raised by Assolda panchayat assume significance in the backdrop of a joint inspection of the under-construction sewage treatment plant by Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority (GCZMA) and the Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB) on Monday, following complaints of environmental violations by local residents. Locals pointed out that the sewage treatment plant is being constructed disregarding religious sentiments as Ganapati visarjan takes place hardly a few metres from the site. Environmental activist Aditya Dessai, who filed the complaint triggering the inspection, said that the project has bypassed crucial environmental safeguards. He demanded an immediate halt to all construction work and relocation of the sewage treatment plant to a non-ecologically sensitive area.
Time of India
21-07-2025
- General
- Time of India
Environmental violations at Curchorem sewage plant site spark calls for relocation
Margao: Curchorem locals pointed out serious environmental violations to officials of the Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority (GCZMA) and Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB) during a joint inspection of the under-construction sewage treatment plant site at Hodar, Curchorem, on Monday. Activists showed officials the areas where contractors allegedly illegally cleared mangrove forests and filled low-lying areas at the site. The inspection team was also shown locations where banks and catchment areas of a tributary of the Zuari river were allegedly filled with soil and concrete. Aditya Dessai, who filed the complaint that triggered the inspection, said, 'This project has bypassed crucial environmental safeguards. The destruction of mangroves, filling of the riverbank, and tampering with natural flood plains are clear violations of the Coastal Regulation Zone norms and the EIA Notification of 2006,' Dessai said. He demanded an immediate halt to all construction work and called for criminal and environmental action against those responsible. 'The sewage plant must be relocated to a non-ecologically sensitive area to protect the Zuari River and the people of Curchorem.' by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like London: If You Were Born Between 1940-1975 You Could Be Eligible For This Life Cover Reassured Get Quote Undo Terming it as 'unsustainable development', another resident, Sushant Vasta, said, 'All the vegetation, water bodies, marine life, and fishing activities will be destroyed if the STP is allowed to come up here,' he said. Acknowledging the significant investment already made in the sewerage project, Vasta insisted that 'we now only demand that the STP be relocated to an alternative place'. 'Let alone violating environmental laws, even the sanctity of the place stands to be violated and religious sentiments disregarded, as Ganapati visarjan takes place only a few metres away from the STP site,' James Fernandes said. Balkrishna Hodarkar, a councillor of Curchorem Cacora Municipal Council, who attended the inspection, raised concerns about flooding risks. 'The flow of the river has been restricted and this will lead to flooding of the houses in the vicinity. The STP needs to be relocated at the earliest,' he said.
Time of India
19-07-2025
- Time of India
‘Not sand dune area': Coastal body rejects Anjuna locals' plaint citing 2011 plan
Panaji: The Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority (GCZMA) discharged the complaint filed by the Anjuna-Caisua Biodiversity Committee and the villagers against a CRZ violation. The authority noted that there is no sand dune ecosystem in the area, and it is not one of the notified turtle nesting sites. The construction was found to be on a property owned by Michael Lobo, who informed the GCZMA that an illegal construction was removed and the debris cleared. Lobo stated to the GCZMA that he purchased the property from one Britto and that the illegal structures were erected by land grabber Mohammed Hassan Shaikh. The villagers complained in Oct 2024 about the destruction of sand dunes, mangroves, and marine life at Vagator beach, purportedly for water sports activities. The GCZMA carried out an inspection of the site, which showed that beach vegetation was removed. Two temporary sheds and 14 water sports vessels were found parked in the area. The GCZMA began proceedings in the matter. The authority noted that Lobo's name was reflected in the property title and also received a representation on March 7 from Lobo stating that the site in question was cleared and the debris and structure were dismantled and removed. 'In view of the compliance representation, a site inspection/verification was carried out by officials of the GCZMA on March 13,' the GCZMA said. 'The site inspection/verification report clearly indicated that the structures mentioned in the show-cause notice were removed and debris was also cleared from the property bearing Survey No. 354/1, village Anjuna, Vagator.' Complainant Desmond Alvares filed formal objections stating that there was flattening of sand dunes, destruction of vegetation, and alleging that the property is conducive to turtle nesting. Lobo filed his response stating that the site in question is not classified as sand dunes as per the notified Coastal Zone Management Plan 2011 and denied any illegal flattening of sand dunes. 'The authority noted that in the inspection carried out by the officials of the GCZMA, there were no other observations noted on illegal cutting of sand dunes and vegetation. As far as the question of turtle nesting is concerned, the said site/property is along Anjuna/Vagator beach, which is admittedly not a turtle nesting beach/site,' the GCZMA noted. It said, 'As per CRZ Notification 2011, only Mandrem, Morjim, Galgibaga, and Agonda are designated turtle nesting beaches/sites. The authority observed that there is no credible evidence on record to show that the site in question is a sand dune area.'
Time of India
16-07-2025
- General
- Time of India
Divar bundh set to finally be fixed, will stave off flooding
Panaji: The water resources department (WRD) is finally set to repair a damaged bundh at Navelim, Divar. The bundh was in a dilapidated condition, with mangroves growing around the existing structure. The Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority (GCZMA) recently issued an NOC for the strengthening of the bundh, provided its width was not increased and the mangroves in the land were not disturbed. Most of the bundh falls in the no-development zone of the Mandovi river, and the land falls within the mangrove buffer zone and khazan area as per Goa's Coastal Zone Management Plan, 2011. The age-old bundh system, dating back to the pre-Portuguese era, is meant to help make farming possible near saline estuarine areas. The maintenance of mud bundhs is a major challenge for the WRD, which is on the lookout for a viable solution. Concrete bundhs were opposed by the Goa State Biodiversity Board, stating that they can prove detrimental to the ecosystem and may adversely affect many species. Former chief minister Manohar Parrikar once proposed the use of vinyl sheet piling as a new-age solution to the concrete bundhs that were being constructed at the time by the WRD. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Many Are Watching Tariffs - Few Are Watching What Nvidia Just Launched Seeking Alpha Read More Undo Most of Divar's khazan lands were once very productive granaries of food. However, breached bundhs, particularly in areas like Malar and Goltim-Navelim, have been a recurring issue, causing flooding of paddy fields and threatening crops due to saline water ingress from the Mandovi river. This problem often worsens during heavy rain and the weakening of ancient khazan systems, leading to significant losses for farmers and concerns for residential areas as well.
