Goa Moves To Shield Major Rivers, Designating Thousands Of Hectares As Protected Land

In an effort to curb unregulated development along its key waterways, the Goa Forest Department has designated more than 6,700 hectares of land along the banks of the Mandovi and Zuari rivers as ecologically sensitive, a move that effectively bans commercial construction and casts fresh uncertainty over the future of sand mining in the state.The designation, which covers approximately 67 crore square meters of riverbank, follows a directive issued by Forest Minister Vishwajit Rane. In a formal communication to the Town and Country Planning (TCP) Department, forest officials outlined the identification and delineation of what they described as "environmentally critical" stretches, urging authorities to invoke planning regulations to safeguard

the zones."The total area identified along both riverbanks is 6,729.54 hectares," the department stated in its letter, which was approved by the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests. "Detailed maps have been enclosed for further examination and implementation."The move marks a significant shift in the state’s approach to river management, prioritizing ecological conservation over industrial or commercial expansion. Once an area is declared ecologically sensitive, the TCP is barred from permitting construction or commercial development within its bounds.The implications for the mining sector are immediate. Sand mining along river banks in Goa has been effectively stalled since 2019, and the new delineation is likely to complicate any efforts to revive the industry. By classifying the riverbanks as vulnerable zones, the state has explicitly prohibited sand extraction, adding a layer of regulatory scrutiny to an industry already mired in legal battles over violations of Coastal Regulation Zone norms.Environmentalists have long argued that unregulated extraction and construction along the Mandovi and Zuari have severely degraded the riverine ecosystems. Officials said Rane’s directive is aimed at ensuring long-term conservation, noting that the measure is intended to preserve the natural state of the rivers against the pressures of development.The TCP Department is now expected to integrate the detailed maps provided by the Forest Department into its planning framework, a step that would legally bind future development in the region to strict environmental standards.