The Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority (GCZMA) conducted an inspection on Friday at a site along the Moira river to investigate the destruction of mangroves within the eco-sensitive coastal regulation zone (CRZ).
Inspection Team and Complaint
The inspection team included GCZMA expert member Harshada Gauns, engineer Bhargavi Kelkar, and field surveyor Siddhi Morajkar. They were accompanied by complainant Nerissa Miranda and Green Goa Brigade convener Avertino Miranda.
A source revealed that the team examined the cutting of the protected coastal buffer and initiated an inquiry to identify those responsible.
Last month, Miranda had alerted the GCZMA, the environment department, and the Panaji range forest officer, urging them to halt the mangrove destruction and file a police complaint. She emphasized that the damage to the area was irreversible.
Ecological and Flood Risks
Mangroves serve as vital nesting habitats for birds, crocodiles, otters, and marine life. The complainant warned that the removal of these natural storm barriers has left residents of Moira, Tivim, Colvale, and surrounding low-lying villages vulnerable to flooding during the monsoon season.
The complainant stressed that the destruction of mangroves exposes these communities to increased flood risks, as the natural barriers that once protected them are now gone.
