HC takes note of construction work near turtle nesting sites

Panaji: High court of Bombay at Goa has directed the forest department to provide details of any assessment carried out on the impact of construction activity near the turtle nesting site on Morjim beach.

Expressing desire to ascertain the position regarding disturbance to the nesting of marine turtle, the division bench comprising Justice N M Jamdar and Justice Prithviraj K Chavan noted that the central government has identified the vulnerability of marine turtles and their dependence on undisturbed beaches for nesting.

A public interest petition filed by voluntary organisation Goa Foundation pertains to a project site that is about 700m away from the turtle nesting site.

The southern corner of Morjim beach is a designated turtle nesting site.

However, nesting occurs sporadically and eggs are often shifted to the nursery at the southern end.

The bench observed that only the distance between the construction and the turtle nesting site has been placed on record. “The turtle nesting area is not a historical monument that the distance can be the only criteria. Large scale construction close to the turtle nesting site may cause vibrations, noise, employ artificial lights. There might be movement of regular and casual work force in and around the area,” the judges observed taking cognisance of possible increase in vehicular traffic and the impact on the site of all these disturbances.

The issue of the project had been raised at the 179th meeting of Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority, recently. There is no buffer zone for the nesting site, at present, the coastal authority was informed.

While granting a week’s time to Goa Foundation to amend the petition to join the forest department as a respondent in the plea, the bench fixed the matter next on October 1.


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