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The Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has approved the Goa government’s proposal to classify 6.72 crore sq m of land along the Mandovi and Zuari riverbanks as an eco-sensitive zone. The designated area, spanning approximately 6,729 hectares, is intended to restrict further development and protect the region’s fragile river ecosystems. The proposal, submitted by the state Forest Department, follows concerns over unregulated construction along key waterways. State authorities have already directed planning agencies to halt new development within the identified stretch. The move is expected to influence land-use regulations and development activity in several river-adjacent areas across Goa.
The Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has approved the Goa government’s proposal to designate a stretch of land along the Mandovi and Zuari riverbanks as an eco-sensitive zone, covering approximately 6.72 crore sq m, or 6,729.54 hectares. The decision, communicated in the past week, aims to restrict further development in areas identified as environmentally fragile. Advertisement
The proposal was submitted by the Goa Forest Department following concerns over increasing construction and land-use changes along these river corridors. State authorities indicated that the classification would enable stricter controls on development activities, with the objective of preserving ecological balance and safeguarding riverine ecosystems.
According to state officials, the identified zone includes key areas along the Mandovi and Zuari rivers that are considered critical from an environmental standpoint. The designation as an eco-sensitive zone is expected to impose regulatory restrictions on construction, land conversion, and other development activities within the demarcated area.
Prior to the central approval, the Forest Department had communicated with the State Town and Country Planning Department, directing that no further development permissions be granted within the proposed zone. This interim measure was intended to prevent additional construction activity while the proposal was under consideration.
The state’s Forest Minister indicated that the move was necessary to curb unregulated development along these waterways, which have been under pressure due to urban expansion and tourism-related activity. The riverbanks form an integral part of Goa’s ecological network, supporting biodiversity as well as acting as natural buffers against environmental degradation.
The eco-sensitive zone classification is expected to have implications for real estate and infrastructure activity in river-adjacent locations, particularly where development proposals were under review or in early planning stages. It may also require revisions to existing land-use plans and zoning regulations in affected areas.
With the approval now in place, the state government is expected to formalise implementation measures and enforcement mechanisms to ensure compliance with environmental norms. The development marks a regulatory intervention aimed at balancing land use with ecological preservation in a state where coastal and riverfront development has seen sustained activity.
Source - PTI
5th Jun, 2025
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