Citizens stop land filling for Western bypass

Goemkarponn desk
MARGAO: A day after the 10-man panel appointed by NGT on Western bypass recommended the road on stilts, some prominent citizens, along with Goa Forward Party, stopped the work on the bypass.
The ten-member committee appointed by National Green Tribunal (NGT) to execute a plan of action for the proposed alignment of the remaining 2.75-kilometre stretch of the Margao National Highway Western bypass from Seraulim to Benaulim has recommended a modified approach.
The panel has suggested that an elevated structure of 0.98 km be constructed to avoid part diversion of River Sal and fill a water body.
Taking to social media, Goa Forward president Vijai Sardesai said huge landfilling on a war footing in low lying areas in Maddel/Mungul paddy fields for the Western Bypass was stopped this morning by prominent citizens!.
“I am firm on only having the bypass on stilts in these areas of Fatorda lest we have situations like we see in Chennai today,” he said.
The National Green Tribunal (NGT) had directed that a 10-member joint committee be formed to examine feasibility of the construction of a four-lane highway in South Goa that would require filling up of ponds and wetlands — or ‘khazan land’, as they are called locally.
“There can be no doubt that waterbodies, wetlands, mangroves and other natural resources need to be protected. While construction of a road may be a necessity, such construction should not result in destruction of biodiversity and other environmental resources, including waterbodies and wetlands. Floodplains of river Sal also need to be protected,” the tribunal observed in a petition filed by activist Royla Fernandes.
In her petition, Fernandes had stated that Margao National Highway Western Bypass has already been built from Nuvem village in South Goa to Seraulim through wetlands and agricultural land. The petitioner stated that 2.75 km from Seraulim to Varca, yet to be constructed, will destroy a large area of wetlands, agricultural lands and waterbodies of these villages.