Panaji: An expert committee of the Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority (GCZMA) inspected the site of Chapora river, based on the Captain of Ports (CoP) proposal to dredge it.
The committee stated that the environmental impact assessment (EIA) must also be carried out, covering the period during the dredging and after it.
The GCZMA expert committee emphasised that the impact on hydrodynamics and geomorphology of the channel and adjoining areas due to changed hydrodynamics, as well as the possible impact on the adjacent coast/bank, should be estimated prior to dredging.
Additionally, the impact on sediment movement characteristics, erosion/accretion phenomenon, and impact on aquatic/marine biota should be assessed.
The site inspection took place on Oct 1. The CoP informed GCZMA that the depth across the sand bars at the mouth of the Chapora river reduces severely due to the accumulation of sand. It creates danger and hazards to navigation, Cop said.
The CoP stated that dredging is required to facilitate the smooth and safe navigation of fishing trawlers at all tides.
Maintenance dredging was carried out earlier in 2011-12 and later in 2018-19. The GCZMA expert committee encouraged that the dredging depth be reassessed by limiting it to the actual minimum requirement to minimise the dredging volume.