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Ex-Mayor Questions Goa's Jetty Plan Amidst River Contamination
19 Jul
Summary
- Former mayor questions rapid EIA for Panaji jetty project.
- RTI reveals no information available on jetty project from GSPCB.
- Study identifies Mandovi estuary as a persistent pollution hotspot.
Former Panaji mayor Surendra Furtado is questioning the government's approach to the redevelopment and extension of the L-shaped jetty opposite the old secretariat on the Mandovi River. Furtado is concerned that a rapid Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is being used instead of a comprehensive study for the project.
His concerns were heightened when an RTI application filed with the Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB) on July 6 yielded a response on July 16 stating that no information was available on the project. Furtado had sought details regarding the jetty proposal, approvals, and the EIA process, having previously flagged the project's perceived fast-tracking.
Furtado linked the GSPCB's lack of information to a peer-reviewed study published on July 23, 2025, by CSIR-National Institute of Oceanography scientists. This study identified Panaji's casino hub as the most persistent pollution hotspot in the Mandovi-Zuari estuary, recording total coliform levels 32 times the permitted limit.
He argues that proceeding with a rapid EIA for a jetty project on an already stressed and polluted river contradicts scientific evidence and public interest. Furtado demands a comprehensive study before any work affecting the Mandovi proceeds.
