PANJIM, May 10
The construction of a road adjacent to St Inez Creek is likely to affect the proposed development of this water body under central scheme.
A seven meter broad road on amore than 300 meter stretch on the bank of the creek, which is a ‘no development zone’ is been constructed by Anil Counto of Alcon Group. A lone JCB working at the site near the creek had levelled mud to develop this road last month.
“The road has already come up near the creek. The encroachment is going to affect the restoration/beautification work of the water body,” Dr Joe D’Souza member of the Sub-committee under Jawaharlal Nehru National Renewal Mission (JNNURM), said.
He said that the area being ‘no development zone’, any construction within 15 meters of the site will disturbed the developmental work of the creek.
“The Central Government in its directives under JNNURM has ordered the State Government not to carry out any sort of construction within 15 mtrs of the creek, which is a natural water body and need space for its beautification,” Dr D’Souza said
“Now the project will proceed only after the removal of this illegal development,” he added.
The St Inez Creek a crisis crossing the capital city of Panjim is scheduled to be taken up for upgradation under JNNURM. The project is hanging fire due to technical difficulties.
Rather then Dr D’Souza, Patricia Pinto and Nandkumar Kamat had strongly expressed their discontent over the constructions that have sprung along the water body and the representations were also made to the chairman of the committee Manohar Parrikar asking to take immediate action.
“The government bodies are not interested in taking the issue seriously. There is no urgency from their side. The meeting which was supposed to be taken up on April 17 has been postponed from May 6 to May 18,” committee member alleged.
When contacted, Parrikar said that it won’t be worth to comment before carrying out a site inspection. “The inspection will be carried out before May 20. If any illegalities are found then the matter will be recommended to the State Level Steering Committee and the Urban Development Ministry for further action,” he told Herald.
Sources earlier had said that the upcoming meeting would give the final verdict on whether the beautification of St Inez Creek to be taken up under JNNURM or not.
The State Government has already forwarded the first slot of projects for funding under JNNURM. Six projects worth Rs 7 crore under heritage conservation as well as six more projects under urban renewal parks and garden at a cost of Rs 11 crore have been forwarded.
