The impugned approval granted for maintenance dredging at the mouth of River Chapora is ex facie illegal, arbitrary, and contrary to binding statutory records and precautionary environmental principles. Official records of the Directorate of Fisheries (01.12.2020) categorically notify the Chapora river stretch covering Badem, Morjim, Chopdem, Siolim, Oxel/Guddem and Danda as fishing villages and fish breeding and nursery grounds, forming protected livelihood and ecologically sensitive zones.
Further, the GCZMA’s own “Carrying Capacity of Beaches of Goa” planning criteria explicitly classify areas with the presence of fishing villages and creeks as “No Activity Areas,” thereby prohibiting intrusive activities such as dredging. Despite this, approval has been accorded ignoring Fisheries data, carrying capacity norms, and the Forest Department’s written objections highlighting risks to turtle nesting beaches at Morjim/Mandrem and avifauna habitats on the river island, and recommending a comprehensive EIA through a reputed institution. Grant of approval without resolving these objections, without cumulative impact assessment on hydrodynamics, sediment transport, fisheries, and coastal stability, and in disregard of the precautionary principle and CRZ Notification, renders the decision unsustainable in law and warrants immediate suspension and revocation in the interest of environmental protection and traditional fishing livelihoods.
Hence GCZMA should not have given permission. They should have directed the party to first get the EIA done, The GCZMA permission is illegal.
