High Court Calls on NIO for Candolim Beach Sand Revival Plan in Goa

The Bombay High Court at Goa has issued a directive to the National Institute of Oceanography (NIO) to propose viable solutions for restoring sand dunes along Candolim beach, aiming to mitigate environmental damage caused by recent illegal constructions.

A division bench comprising justices M S Karnik and Valmiki Menezes has requested the NIO director to dispatch a scientific officer knowledgeable in techniques for accelerating sand accretion. This officer is tasked with assessing survey number 146/4-E in Candolim and submitting a comprehensive report within three weeks outlining strategies to restore the sandy stretches. The initiative follows submissions from the Goa State Biodiversity Board, which underscored that natural sand accretion processes occur gradually over extended periods, particularly on land where an unauthorized club was previously operational until recently demolished.

Advocates Norma Alvares and Om D’Costa, representing Goa Foundation and Roshan Mathias, highlighted a research paper published by NIO. This paper advocates a scientific approach to expedite sand accretion, citing successful implementation at Miramar beach in Panaji. The bench acknowledged this method as a scientifically robust means to enhance natural sand deposition processes. The legal proceedings stem from petitions filed after an illicit resort operated on Candolim beach against court orders, including directives from the Supreme Court for its demolition. Subsequently, the Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority (GCZMA) imposed approximately Rs 2 crore in compensation costs on the resort’s operators for environmental damage. This decision is currently under challenge in the Supreme Court. The High Court is actively addressing the restoration of the affected area, formerly characterized by vital sand dunes, emphasizing sustainable environmental management practices amidst Goa’s coastal development challenges.