Team Herald
PANJIM: The High Court of Bombay at Goa has issued notices to Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority, Tourism and Forest Departments in view of a public interest litigation (PIL) demanding restraining of motorised water sports which are slated to begin at Morjim.
The PIL alleges that the decision to permit water sports at Morjim is contrary to the CRZ notification, State government’s water sports policy and the Beach Carrying Capacity Report of the National Centre for Sustainable Coastal Management. The bench comprising Justices N M Jamdar and Prithviraj K Chawan then issued the notices and fixed the next hearing on November 21.
During the listing of the matter on Wednesday, the Goa government submitted to the bench that if any activity harmful to the turtle nesting in the very area is being carried out, it would take action. The Court also directed the Chief Wildlife Warden and GCZMA to act on the representation of the petitioner, Goa Foundation.
The NGO has alleged that motorised water sports activity, to commence in Morjim, pose grave and imminent threat to the breeding process of Olive Ridley turtles as they cause disturbances in the sea water.
close to the shore where the turtles remain before coming out to lay their eggs.
“The motorised water sports activity would drive away turtles landing on the beach for nesting. Such activity is expressly prohibited under the Goa Tourism Department’s Water Sport Policy, 2012, and must, therefore, not be allowed,” the petitioner prayed.
