The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has issued notices to multiple Goa government bodies in response to a petition challenging the approval of nine commercial-cum-private jetties located near the ecologically sensitive Dr. Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary at Chorao, along the Mandovi River.
The notices, returnable within four weeks, have been served to the Chief Secretary, Captain of Ports, Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority (GCZMA), the Forest Department, and five other respondents. The petition was filed by environmentalists Dikshay Phadte and Ajit Volvoikar, who argue that the jetties—intended for non-fishing commercial use—violate the Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) Notification of 2011, which restricts development in fish breeding and ecologically sensitive zones.
The petitioners also urged the NGT to direct the Forest Department to prepare a zonal master plan for the sanctuary’s eco-sensitive zone and prohibit such developments in Goa’s traditional fishing villages. The NGT has admitted the plea and ordered that all nine jetty owners be added as respondents, emphasizing the need to evaluate whether commercial activities at these sites are permissible under current CRZ rules.
During a recent preliminary hearing, the bench—comprising Justice Dinesh Kumar Singh and expert member Dr. Vijay Kulkarni—highlighted concerns about Clause 3 of the CRZ Notification, which permits only fishing-related infrastructure. The tribunal will continue to assess whether the jetties breach these regulations.