Team Goemkarponn
PANAJI: The Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority (GCZMA) has come down heavily on the Goa Tourism Development Corporation (GTDC) for carrying out large-scale excavation and sand levelling activities at Morjim beach under the pretext of beautification, allegedly causing serious ecological damage to the turtle-nesting coastline.
According to the Authority, GTDC’s actions led to the destruction of beach vegetation and altered the natural coastal morphology within a No Development Zone (NDZ), in clear violation of the Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) norms. The GCZMA has now ordered GTDC to immediately stop all ongoing work and has sought the deployment of coastal police to conduct regular patrols in the area to prevent further violations.
The Authority noted that GTDC had been granted a No Objection Certificate (NOC) only for basic beautification of the Morjim promenade and the installation of public amenities — with explicit instructions to avoid any digging or alteration of the landscape. However, an expert site inspection revealed extensive excavation using two JCB machines, which had dug up beach sand to depths between 1.5 and 2 metres over an estimated 2,000 square metre area.
The affected site lies within 80 metres of the ecologically sensitive turtle nesting and conservation zone at Tembwada, Morjim. “The activities have caused major damage to the fragile beach ecosystem, leading to loss of vegetation and irreversible changes to coastal morphology,” the GCZMA observed in its findings.
In response, the Authority has directed the Goa State Biodiversity Board to conduct a detailed inspection and prepare a restoration and management plan for the site. Based on the findings, the violators will face environmental compensation for the damage caused.
Interestingly, the violations first came to light after two alert locals raised the alarm and reported the illegal excavation to GCZMA officials, prompting a swift inquiry into the matter.
