Team Goemkarponn
PANAJI: Former Panaji Mayor Surendra Furtado has claimed that the Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB) has no records related to the proposed L-shaped jetty opposite the Old Secretariat on the Mandovi River, raising questions over the project’s environmental clearance process.
Addressing a press conference on Friday, Furtado said he had filed an application under the Right to Information (RTI) Act on July 6, 2026, seeking details of the proposal, approvals, and the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) process.
According to Furtado, the GSPCB, in its reply dated July 16, 2026, stated, “As per record no information is available.”
Referring to the response, Furtado questioned why authorities were allegedly pursuing a Rapid Environmental Impact Assessment (Rapid EIA) instead of a comprehensive EIA for the project.
He reiterated his demand that a detailed Environmental Impact Assessment and a full public consultation process should be conducted before any approval is granted for the proposed jetty.
Furtado said the Mandovi River is Goa’s lifeline and maintained that any project affecting the river must be undertaken in a transparent, scientifically sound, and people-centric manner.
He also said he is awaiting additional documents related to the proposal and urged the concerned authorities to clarify the rationale behind opting for a Rapid EIA instead of a full environmental assessment.
