Goemkarponn desk
PANAJI: The National Green Tribunal while admitting a petition on Western bypass near Margao said that the construction of road may be a necessity, but should not
result in destruction of bio-diversity.
Applicant Royla Fernandes had approached the NGT saying that the Margao National Highway Western Bypass has already been constructed from Nuvem village upto Seraulim fish market through Khanzan lands/wetlands and agricultural lands.
She said that the road is further to be constructed from wholesale fish market road Seraulim to Varca road South Goa by destroying the large wetlands/khazan lands, agricultural lands and water bodies of the said villages. As of now, the project is fully on earthen embankments with one railway overbridge and three underpasses and nine box culverts, passing through khazan lands, paddy fields, Water bodies, through villages of Verna, Nuvem, Seraulim, Benaulim, Navelim and Telaulim, besides a very small portion in Margao municipal area by illegally filling the said agricultural lands and water bodies and wetlands/khazan lands. The residents of Seraulim and Benaulim vehemently objected to the construction of the Margao National Highway Western Bypass on earthen embankments, through the villages Seraulim to Benaulim as the said construction would lead to water stagnation, resulting in flooding and inundation of houses located in and around the vicinity of villages Seraulim to Benaulim. Therefore, the residents of Seraulim and Benaulim demanded the roads to be constructed on stilts and also requested against access/service roads since the service roads are already in existence.
The NGT said it has found prima facie case for consideration having regard to the averments in the application.
“There can be no doubt that water bodies, 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 bio-diversity and other environmental resources, including water bodies and wetlands,” the NGT said.
It said the flood plains of river Sal also need to be protected.
”The studies referred to in the application support the need for such protection. Accordingly, we direct constitution of a ten member joint Committee comprising SEIAA, Goa, Goa State Biodiversity Board, Goa State Wetland Authority, PWD, Goa, Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority (GCZMA), District Magistrate, South Goa, Water Resources Department, State PCB, a nominee of National Wetland Authority and a nominee of PCCF (HoFF), Goa. The State PCB and SEIAA, Goa will be the nodal agency for coordination and compliance. A meeting of the Committee may be held within two weeks and after taking stock of the situation, plan of action may be prepared and executed,” the NGT said.
The Tribunal said that the Committee may also undertake visit to the site as early as possible. An action taken report may be filed within three months by e-mail at judicialngt@gov.in preferably in the form of searchable PDF/ OCR Support PDF and not in the form of Image PDF.
“The applicant is at liberty to make representation to the Committee through the nodal agency. List for further consideration on 10.11.2021. A copy of this order be forwarded to the SEIAA, Goa, Goa State Biodiversity Board, Goa State Wetland Authority, PWD, Goa, GCZMA, District Magistrate, South Goa, Water Resources Department, Goa, State PCB, National Wetland Authority and PCCF (HoFF), Goa by email for compliance. The applicant may serve set of papers on SEIAA, Goa, Goa State Biodiversity Board, Goa State Wetland Authority, PWD, Goa, GCZMA, District Magistrate, South Goa, Water Resources Department, Goa, State PCB, National Wetland Authority and PCCF (HoFF), Goa to facilitate compliance of the above order and file an affidavit of service within one week,” it stated.
