Chapora river and its illegal damaging dredging

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.

Pictures from Unity Mall protest site at Kadamba Plateau

 

continues disruption of fishing in Zuari river due to parasailing activities

Date: 15 January 2026

To,

Director of Tourism, 

Government of Goa,

Panaji, Goa

Subject: continues disruption of fishing in Zuari river due to parasailing activities

Sir,

This is to ca your attention to continues disruption of fishing activities in Zuari river due to parasailing with tourists on board.

In this context All Goa Small Scale Responsible Fisheries Union (AGSSRFU) had personal meeting with you and your subordinate officers including Deputy director Diksha Tari on 08 January 2026.

During the meeting it was got revealed that entire parasailing fleet in Zuari river is functioning without authorisation from Tourism Department. Your office had promised us action to stop this parasailing activities. However it continued and there are daily reports of such parasailing activities in Zuari river from Dona Paula to inwards sometimes reaching upto foreshore of Odxel, Cacra and Nauxim villages.

Constant movement of parasailing boats is detrimental to fishing activities and you are requested to take effective steps to stop it. If your office doesn't act then we will be constraint to initiate further action in defence of Fisheries of Zuari river that your office is currently destroying. 

Request you to station your staff at Odxel beach. We at AGSSRFU are eager to collaborate with your office required manner to tackle this situation.

Photo enclosed.

Thanking you.

Yours sincerely, 

Shaila D'mello

President

Laximan Mangueshkar 

Secretary

Copy to :

Director of Fisheries, Government of Goa, Panaji, Goa

Is it Goa Tourism Department or Terrorism Department?

There is constant disturbance of fishing in Zuari river from a form of tourism known as parasailing. Some agents fetch tourists and transport them into Zuari river. Tourists are then given experience of parasailing in the middle of the river. This creates disturbance in water and chases away the fish. 

All Goa Small Scale Responsible Fisheries Union has lodged complaints before director of Tourism. It has been given to understand that the parasailing activities in Zuari river is unauthorized but there are no actions taken to stall it. As a consequence there is continues suffering to fishing communities. 

In this context tourism department is fast turning into terrorism department. 

Sand miners on the path to mob lynching in Pernem?

Latest reports posted on Facebook about family on the banks of Tiracol river in Pernem are indeed frightening. Groups of people engaged in illegal sand mining coming to threatened single family whose house is directly threatened due to sand extraction. 

Situation is so dangerous that report links up involving highest political office in the State - of Chief Minister - being the supporter (if not sponsor) of such violent threats being issued to a single family.

Sand miners - the way trends indicate - might turn monsters indulging in mob lynching.

Links here:

https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1ByEJRPvuU/