A full-scale wedding reception held late Monday night on the Junasvaddo stretch of Mandrem beach — officially notified as an Olive Ridley turtle nesting site — has sparked public outrage and left the Department of Tourism scrambling for answers. Director of Tourism Kedar Naik maintained that no permission had been granted. “We never gave any permission for any wedding at Mandrem. I do not know how it was organised. I will make sure the culprits are arrested by the Tourism Police,” he said. However, Deputy Superinten dent of Police (Tourist) Pravin Kumar Vast distanced his unit from the issue, stating, “The tourism police is not an investigative police and we are not aware of any matter. Arrests or investigations are done by the police under whose jurisdiction the crime is committed.” Residents were shocked that the reception — with loud mu sic, bright lights and fireworks — was held less than 50 metres from the high tide line during peak nesting season, when Olive Ridley turtles are expected to come ashore.
“What is this madness? This entire coastal stretch is qui et after sunset with no lights and music. Last night there was a mayhem of lights, music and fireworks,” said local resident Girish Naik. Despite multiple WhatsApp complaints to Mandrem Po lice Inspector GirindreNaik and Pernem SDPO Shaik, the music continued until 10:25 pm. Mandrem and Morjim beaches were declared official Olive Ridley nesting sites through a Government of Goa Gazette Notification on January 7, 2021, issued under the Coastal Regulation Zone Notification 2011 and the Wildlife Protec tion Act, 1972. The entire Mandrem–Morjim beach stretch — from 0 to 500 metres of CRZ— was also designated a Si lent Zone by the Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority. Capt Gerald Fernandes, a member of the Noise Monitoring Committee appointed by the Goa Bench of the Bombay High Court, said he intervened after locals alerted him. “I could not keep quiet. I sent messages to the authorities requesting immediate action. I think they acted a bit too late,” he said. Turtle conservationist DenzilSequeira lamented, “After the notification, the entire stretch has been declared a si lent zone. It is a pity that a party was allowed on Depart ment of Tourism land, which is government property.” When contacted by O Heraldo on Monday night, both the PI and SDPO promised to act immediately, though locals say the noise stopped only an hour later. On Tuesday after noon, PI Naik admitted he was unaware of the notification. “Please share it with me. I will see that it does not happen again,” he said after being shown photographs of the stage still standing on the beach. Locals insist such a large wedding could not have been held without official backing. Although the Tourism Direc tor denied knowledge of the event, staff at his office were left red-faced when shown photographs of the Monday night party and the stage still existing the next day. Despite repeated strictures by the Goa Bench of the Bom bay High Court — most recently in its March 29, 2023 judg ment in Contempt Petition No 14/2022 in PIL WP No 7 of 2021 — residents say violations continue unchecked. The court had noted that “the Ashvem–Mandrem beach has a turtle nesting site and consequently, the same is one of the most ecologically sensitive areas in Goa.” The latest incident, locals warn, is yet another example of how fragile protec tions remain on the ground despite clear legal safeguards.
