NT Reporter
Panaji
The Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority (GCZMA) has approved
the Water Resources Department’s (WRD) long-pending proposal for coastal erosion mitigation projects at Ashwem, Coco and Talpona beaches. The approval was granted during the 502nd GCZMA meeting recently.
The Authority also decided to waive scrutiny fees, stating that the proposal was in public interest.
The proposal underwent several rounds of deliberations before receiving approval. During the 498th GCZMA meeting, the matter was referred to the Authority’s Expert Member for detailed study. At the 499th meeting held on March 31, the proposal was deferred for want of time and rescheduled.
At the 501st meeting, the matter was again deferred for want of time and taken up the following day. During the 502nd meeting, the Authority initially sought further clarification before approving the proposal after detailed
discussions.
The WRD had engaged the National Institute of Ocean Technology (NIOT), CSIR, Chennai, under the National Hydrology Project with World Bank assistance, to prepare an Integrated River Basin and Shoreline Management Plan for Goa covering the period from 1972 to 2020.
The study involved the use of high-resolution satellite imagery, field surveys, UAV-based photogrammetry, wave measurements, bathymetric studies and sediment sampling during pre-monsoon and post-monsoon seasons. Based on the findings, Ashwem, Coco and Talpona were identified as priority sites due to long-term shoreline erosion.
For Ashwem beach, the approved mitigation measures include headlands on both sides of the beach along with dune protection and sand nourishment.
At Coco beach in central Goa, the proposal includes construction of a river training wall at the mouth of the Nerul River, along with shore-normal groynes and sand nourishment.
Talpona beach in South Goa will have protective infrastructure comprising breakwaters, dune protection and sand nourishment.
“The Authority after detailed discussion decided to approve the proposal. Further, since the proposal is for a coastal erosion mitigation project, the Authority decided not to charge any scrutiny fees,” the official record of the meeting said.
