Forest Dept flags Chapora dredging over turtle threat

The Forest Department has raised strong objections to the proposed maintenance dredging at the mouth of the Chapora River, citing the lack of an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) study to assess its impact on the turtle nesting beaches of Morjim and Mandrem.

- THE GOAN | NETWORK

In a submission to the Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority (GCZMA), the department has also highlighted that the Captain of Ports -- the project implementing agency -- intends to use the dredged sand for construction purpose, in violation of the Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) guidelines, according to which sand mining through beach is banned.

The CoP department had approached GCZMA for CRZ clearance to undertake maintenance dredging at the mouth of river Chapora.