The Captain of Ports stated that maintenance dredging at the mouth of the River Chapora was carried out more than 1,000 metres away from the turtle nesting sites at Morjim and Mandrem beaches and in full compliance with environmental safeguards.
In an affidavit filed before the National Green Tribunal (NGT), Western Zone, Captain of Ports Octavio Antony Rodrigues said the dredging work did not disturb any notified turtle nesting habitats. He maintained that dredging was confined strictly to the designated navigation channel, balancing ecological considerations with navigational safety and public interest.
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He pointed out that the Forest Department had earmarked an area extending approximately 600 metres from Morjim beach as a no-take zone for conservation purposes and the dredging activity was undertaken beyond this limit.
Rodrigues also submitted that he was unable to file a detailed reply at this stage due to lack of opportunity to examine the pleadings and documents relied upon by the appellant. He sought leave of the Tribunal to place a comprehensive affidavit on record at an appropriate stage.
The appeal filed by Sagardeep Sirsaikar of Chapora, challenges the NOC/clearance dated November 17, 2025 granted by the Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority (GCZMA) for maintenance dredging at the mouth of the River Chapora.
Rodrigues stated that the present dredging was not a new activity but part of routine upkeep of an existing channel essential for maritime safety and the continuity of fishing operations.
Referring to an incident on February 8, 2025, when two fishing trawlers sustained significant damage after striking a sandbar at the river mouth while returning ashore, he stated that the incident posed serious risks to property and human life. Fishing, he said, is a primary source of livelihood for many Goans, making safe access through the navigation channel critically important.
In view of sedimentation and the formation of sandbars at the river mouth, there was an urgent need to undertake maintenance dredging to restore navigability and prevent further accidents, he added.
Rodrigues stated that the dredging was carried out pursuant to the CRZ clearance and has since been completed. A contractor was appointed through a tender process to execute the work over a stretch measuring approximately 1,000 metres in length, 50 metres in width and 2.5 metres in depth, in accordance with the GCZMA NOC dated November 17, 2025.
He said that by a letter dated February 12, 2026, the contractor informed the department that the awarded work had been duly completed to ensure a smooth and safe navigational channel. The works, he emphasised, were strictly limited to maintenance dredging within the approved parameters and did not involve any expansion or alteration of the existing navigational alignment.
