NT Reporter
Panaji
The Captain of Ports Department has informed the National Green Tribunal’s Western Zone Bench, Pune, that maintenance dredging at the mouth of River Chapora has already been completed, and that the work was carried out entirely within approved parameters “without causing any disturbance to turtle nesting sites at Morjim and Mandrem beaches.”
The submission came through a preliminary affidavit filed by CoP, Octavio Rodrigues, in response to an
appeal filed by Sagardeep Sirsaikar challenging the NOC granted by Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority on November 17, 2025.
The affidavit filed before the Bench of Justice Dinesh Kumar Singh and Dr Sujit Kumar Bajpayee, sets out in clear terms the justification for the dredging operation. Rodrigues stated that Chapora port was declared a non-minor port as far back as 1967 and that fishing vessels have been using the river since time immemorial. The navigational channel at the river mouth, he submitted, has been periodically dredged and maintained by his department.
He added that on February 8, 2025, two trawlers sustained significant damage after striking a sandbar at the river mouth while returning ashore which made the maintenance dredging an urgent necessity.
On the environmental concerns raised by the appellant, Rodrigues maintained that the dredging site is located more than 1,000 metres from the turtle nesting sites at Morjim and Mandrem, and that the Forest Department has earmarked a No-Take-Zone of approximately 600 metres from Morjim beach for conservation purposes. The maintenance dredging, he asserted, was carried out wholly outside this zone and in compliance with all applicable environmental safeguards. The work was executed by the contractor, who intimated completion vide letter dated February 12, with a final survey proposed on February 17.
The appellant had contended that the dredging overlapped with the October-to-May turtle nesting season and that no environmental impact assessment study was conducted, despite the Forest Department having specifically recommended one in its letter dated June 27, 2025. Citing the Sea Turtle Nesting and Habitat Management Plan of 2024, the appellant argued that GCZMA’s own condition that work be completed before the nesting period was violated.
NGT, noting the conflict between the position of
CoP and the recommendation of the Forest Department, has directed fresh notices to be issued to all respondents who are yet to enter appearance.
The matter has been listed for the next hearing on April 7.
