Daijiworld Media Network- Panaji

Panaji, Mar 7: Cracking down on unauthorized commercial activities, the High Court has directed the Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB) to immediately seal 20 business establishments in Agonda for operating without the mandatory Consent to Operate. The action comes in light of ongoing efforts to protect ecologically sensitive turtle nesting sites in the region.

During the hearing of a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) on Thursday, the Advocate General informed the court that the Goa government is in the process of finalizing the Turtle Nesting Management Plan, which is currently in draft form. He assured the court that by March 12, the state would provide clarity on the exact date of its notification.

Environmental activists and conservationists have long raised concerns over unregulated tourism and commercial establishments encroaching upon nesting grounds of the Olive Ridley turtles, a species protected under wildlife laws. The High Court’s directive marks a significant step in ensuring stricter enforcement of conservation regulations in the coastal belt.

Further hearings in the case are expected to shed light on the implementation of protective measures for turtle nesting zones in Goa.