Team Goemkarponn
PANAJI: Goa Forward Party chief Vijai Sardesai has introduced The Goa (Protection of Rivers) Bill, 2026, seeking to establish a structured legal mechanism for safeguarding rivers across the state.
The proposed legislation outlines the formation of a three-tier Goa River Protection Authority that would be tasked with monitoring, regulating and guiding conservation initiatives related to river ecosystems. The authority is envisaged as the nodal body to coordinate river management efforts at multiple levels.
The Bill also proposes formally designating certain waterways as “Protected Rivers” and creating River Conservation Zones to shield ecologically sensitive stretches from degradation and unchecked development.
To address pollution and environmental damage, the draft law suggests strict penalties for violations, aiming to deter activities that threaten the health of river systems.
The initiative is designed to reinforce environmental safeguards and promote the sustainable management of Goa’s water resources in the long term. The Bill is expected to be taken up for further discussion in the Assembly in the coming days.
