The Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority (GCZMA) has initiated a fresh inquiry into a project by the Goa Tourism Development Corporation (GTDC), this time at the popular Baga beach. This development comes shortly after the tourism body was found violating Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) norms at Morjim beach.
Baga Project Under the Scanner
The GCZMA has begun formal hearings after receiving two separate complaints alleging that the GTDC is carrying out construction work within a designated no-development zone (NDZ) of the CRZ on its property in Baga. Acting on these complaints, expert members from the authority conducted a detailed site inspection to assess the allegations firsthand.
Both the complainant, identified as a local resident from Calangute, and representatives from the GTDC were directed to submit their detailed statements and evidence. The GTDC, in its submission, has maintained that all necessary permissions for the ongoing work were duly obtained.
Mapping the Structures for Verification
However, the GCZMA is not taking the corporation's word at face value. To verify the claims and check for any deviations, the authority has decided to undertake a precise mapping of all structures at the alleged violation site in Baga. This exercise aims to cross-check the actual construction on the ground against the officially approved plan.
The next hearing in this matter has been scheduled for January 27. The outcome of the mapping report is expected to play a crucial role in the final decision.
A Repeat of Morjim Beach Violations
This is not the first time GTDC has faced the GCZMA's scrutiny. In a strikingly similar case, in October 2025, the authority had directed the GTDC to restore Morjim beach to its original condition. An investigation revealed that the corporation had violated the permissions granted for simple beautification and visitor amenities.
Instead, the GTDC's contractor had engaged in significant environmental damage, including cutting sand dunes and carrying out deep excavation. Morjim beach is critically important as one of only four designated olive ridley turtle nesting sites in Goa. The GCZMA had warned of further action, including the potential withdrawal of all permissions, if corrective measures were not taken.
While the GTDC had blamed the appointed contractor for the Morjim violations and sought a stay on the GCZMA's restoration order, its request was subsequently denied by the authority. The fresh probe in Baga indicates a pattern of alleged non-compliance with coastal protection laws by the state's tourism development body, raising serious environmental concerns.
