TUESDAY, APRIL 16, 2024
MARCOS GONSALVES
BENAULIM: TThe committee formed to study the matter related to Western Bypass will be able to find any findings in the dry spell of monsoon? Or is it a deliberate effort from the government agencies to delay the direction given by the National Green Tribunal?
That's the question being asked by the people and children of Benaulim with regard to the National Green Tribunal orders on Western Bypass stretch from Seraulim to Varca. People want to know why there is a delay in initiating the procedure, as the committee formed recently is yet to call a meeting and has yet to fix a date of inspection. One month has already passed out of three months given by the NGT.
In the order passed on June 22, NGT has stated that the committee may also undertake a visit to the site as early as possible. However, despite pleading by the petitioner Royla Fernandes to inspect the stretch during the heavy rains was ignored completely. Hence, at present the high hopes of citizens and more especially of the student community of Benaulim to witness their environment is protected by constructing the Western Bypass on stilts seems to be devastated.
It may be recalled that after running from pillar to post by a petitioner, NGT had given direction to the government agencies to form the 10 members committee and study the matter, and submit the report within three months of time pertaining to the Western Bypass stretch of 2.75 kilometres to be built on stilts.
THE CRUX OF THE MATTER: CAN THE WESTERN BYPASS BE BUILT ON STILTS
NGT had also been directed to hold the meeting within two weeks of time, which is yet to be called. More important was that the site inspection to take stock of the exact situations prevailing at ground zero is yet to be done. According to the petitioner, the best time was during the heavy rains.
Speaking to Herald petitioner Royla Fernandes said that first of all the government agencies delayed forming the 10 members committee to study the matter, as per the NGT order.
"We were expecting that the site inspection would be carried out in the monsoon that too during the heavy rains, which could have given a clear picture of the ground reality", she stated.
Royla said how can the reality of flooding be witnessed in a dry spell?
"One of our contentions was that area gets flooded during the heavy rains and the land filling for the construction of the Western Bypass will lead to more disasters. And hence, in order to study the matter committee should have held the inspection at the right time, which they almost missed", she further stated.
Royla had pointed out that famous water bodies such as Komla Tollem and Vhoddlem Tollem in Benaulim would be damaged by this work.
Reportedly a joint inspection was held on December 18, 2019, and the Agriculture Department’s report clearly indicated that “large scale land filling has been done for the construction of the Western Bypass” while in other areas there is no outlet for water.
One of the apprehensions is that in the future children from Benaulim and Seraulim will not be able to see the beauty of nature if the government goes ahead with the western bypass project and if not built on stilts. That's not over; even the farming community will be badly affected, as their fields will get flooded. Houses will also get flooded and practically this was witnessed a few days back during the heavy rains.
According to Fernandes, the government agencies are taking the advantage of 'may be' stated in the NGT order.
Is the government taking advantage of the term “may”, instead of “shall” in the NGT order?
The NGT order has stated that the committee 'may be formed within two weeks and after taking stock of the situation, plan of action 'may be prepared and executed. The committee is not bound to do it within a certain period of time", she stated.
When Herald contacted Shamila Monteiro, Member Secretary of Goa Stated Pollution Control Board, said that they have constituted the 10 members committee and notification has also been issued.
Senior Environment Engineer Sanjeev Joglekar said, "The meeting is yet to be called to discuss the course of an action plan, and how to go about with regard to NGT's directions. Secretary for the Environment Department was out of State and hence the meeting could not be called.” He admitted that the date for the inspection of the Western Bypass stretch from Seraulim to Varca which is 2.75 kilometres is not yet fixed. However, Joglekar could not clarify the delay in initiating the process as per the NGT order.
