Panaji: A fisheries department proposal for a 700m wall on Morjim beach appears to be yet another hurdle for nesting of Olive Ridley turtles on a chaotic and shrinking turtle nesting site, sources said.

The structure on the southern tip of the beach and at the mouth of River Chapora forms part of the river training project to ensure unhindered access to navigation. The growing sand spit and formation of sand shoals in the river has silted it and fishing canoes venturing towards the sea often run aground at low tide.

The retaining wall is expected to control the influx of sand and curb the sand spit growth, narrowing the river. Even continuous dredging in the area is found inadequate. "The wall will help keep the river mouth free and navigable for fishing boats, which otherwise have to wait till October-November to go out fishing," said fisheries department director Shamila Monteiro.

The structure has been recommended on the basis of model studies by Indian Institute of Technology Madras.

Sources said the project assumes significance as ports administration department also has plans to dredge an L-shaped strip, approximately 40m wide and 100m long to clear the channel in River Chapora. The dredging is expected to extract about 75.000 cu m of sand.

Member of Goa coastal zone management authority (GCZMA) Antonio Mascarenhas had suggested a scientific study to assess the problems in the river.

After an inspection at the river mouth area at the behest of Goa biodiversity board, Mascarenhas had suggested that the study would clarify whether dredging is required and which were the exact areas needing attention.

"Dredging of any water body can be beneficial as well as detrimental to the ecosystem concerned," Mascarenhas noted in his report.

Animal lovers are viewing the projects in River Chapora with alarm. The cumulative impact of increase in number of beach beds, shacks and stalls as also beach parties and illumination at night have choked the beach and affected Olive Ridley turtles arriving for nesting, sources said.

Fears are being raised about the impact of the structure on beach morphology. "If the wall helps curtail the growth of the spit, the beach will start widening towards the sea at the cost of the spit," Mascarenhas said.

Agreed SujeetDongre, programme coordinator, centre for environment education (CEE), "It will cause sand erosion on the beach. The location chosen for the wall is a turtle nesting site and flipper visitors require porous sand to lay their eggs."

While the fisheries department has fixed markers for the location of the wall, the ports administration is awaiting an environment impact assessment (EIA) report from the National Institute of Oceanography (NIO), raising questions about the lack of inter-departmental coordination.

"The EIA report by NIO is awaited," captain James Braganza said.

Sources in the forest department and GCZMA said that they are unaware of the project. Monteiro asserted, "We have all the requisite approvals, including that of the Goa coast zone management authority."

With the impact of tourism activities and other factors affecting the arrival of turtles, animal lovers are worried.

"A change in beach morphology means the fate of the endangered species is at stake," a wildlife enthusiast said.