Goa's Imagine Panaji Smart City commissions rapid EIA for Ribandar jetty development

The Imagine Panaji Smart City Development (IPSCDL) has commissioned a rapid Environment Impact Assessment for the ₹2.1 crore jetty project at Ribandar. A 3-month timeline has been charted out for the same. With an aim to benefit the local fishermen, the existing obsolete wooden jetty will be redeveloped into a concrete jetty under the programme.

As per the directives of the Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority (GCZMA), the IPSCDL has been delegated for a 3-month Environment Impact Assesment (EIA) for the development of the Ribandar jetty. Besides this, an Environment Management Plan (EMP) will also be formulated to procure the project clearance. Once the EIA is finalised, the construction work of the Ribandar jetty will be completed in about 12 months.

As per the officials from IPSCDL, the outstanding is keen on appointing an agency to prepare the rapid EIA and EMP reports. This contracted party will be obligated to study the environmental regulatory requirements applicable for the fishing jetty at Ribandar.

Notably, the impact on land, ambient air quality, marine environment and biological ecosystem will also be included in the scope of this assessment, before any decision is made.

As per the reports, the proposal of this Ribandar jetty is part of the Ribandar Smart City Mission, which aims at an infrastructure upgrade to provide better amenities to people. Under the banner of this project, the IPSCDL has planned several other infrastructure schemes, for public amenities, transport, roadways, safety-security and sports.