VELSAO: The Biodiversity Management Committee (BMC) of Velsao-Pale-Issorsim panchayat submitted a scientific report on the damage done to the creek and surrounding areas to the Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority (GCZMA) and Water Resources Department (WRD). This comes in the wake of recent inspections by the GCZMA and WRD over the work being carried out by Rail Vikas Nigam Limited (RVNl) in Pale.
The BMC supported their claims with pictures and referred to prior scientific reports on the land, water bodies of Goa, and climate change. They urged the government to furnish the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) report and pointed out that the environmental impacts of linear infrastructures have already been established.
If you enjoyed reading this article, you can help support our journalism by adding OHeraldo as a preferred source.
The committee also expressed concern about the loss of high conservation value flora and fauna species, including migratory and endemics, which may not have been listed in existing information. They demanded a thorough seasonal inventorization before RVNL proceeded with any further work. The BMC insisted that no permission should be granted without thorough inspection.
They further demanded that mitigatory measures to prevent damage, disruption, and significant alteration of the original ecosystem should be clearly specified in the project design and plans. The BMC’s inspection began along the right of the railway crossing and proceeded along the west of the railway line till the Creek (locally called- Poiem) at Mollo, Dando.
