State plans extension of Panaji's Portuguese-era jetty

Panaji: River navigation department (RND) is moving ahead with plans to reconstruct and extend a Portuguese-era concrete jetty located in front of the old secretariat building in Panaji. Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority (GCZMA) has directed RND to conduct a rapid environmental impact assessment (EIA) before granting clearance.According to documents from GCZMA, the 80-metre-long jetty extends about 9.2 metres from the banks of the Mandovi river. The jetty, which occupies a prime waterfront location, is currently used by two offshore casino vessels, Deltin and Pride Group, from which RND earns Rs 25 lakh per month as rent.“The department intends to repair and extend the existing jetty, which was constructed during the pre-liberation period. These repairs and extension are essential for keeping standby rescue vehicles for emergencies. The department’s Betim ferry is in bad condition, and one part of the Betim jetty collapsed recently. We need a new jetty,” said RND director Vikramsinh Rajebhosale.The jetty, which once housed the RND office, is located in one of Goa’s significant colonial-era zones. Site inspections revealed mangrove vegetation along the periphery of the proposed extension area. GCZMA conducted an inspection on Nov 21 and found that the site falls entirely under the CRZ-IVB classification as per the Coastal Zone Management Plan, 2011.While the proposal complies with CZMP guidelines, GCZMA directed RND to submit a rapid EIA report before final approval. The EIA will assess the impact on water and sediment quality, flora and fauna during construction, and examine riverbank stability, jetty safety, and erosion or accretion.“Extension of the jetty will aid revenue generation for the department. The priority is the first phase, which is the extension of the jetty,” Rajebhosale said.The department approached GCZMA for project clearance on Oct 30.