Team Herald
MARGAO: Following complaints and an investigation into the excavation of a low-lying area on the banks of River Sal, the Benaulim village panchayat has written to various authorities including the Sewerage and Infrastructure Development Corporation of Goa Ltd (SIDCGL) to attend a joint inspection to be held on October 3.
In letters sent to SIDCGL, Town & Country Planning (TCP), PWD, Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority (GCZMA), and the Water Resources Department (WRD), the panchayat informed them about the inspection it had carried out at the site located near Kharebandh, Benaulim.
“Upon inquiring with the site supervisor of the contractor, it was informed that the excavation is part of the Colva STP Sewage discharge line and that a holding tank is being constructed at the excavated site to connect the discharge pipe into the river,” said Sarpanch Xavier Pereira.
The supervisor later told them that there were no drawings, plans or permissions for the activity, while the contractor informed them that the actual site of the proposed holding tank is at a different place and not where the present excavation was being done.
“Any work involving excavation and laying of concrete should be done with the permission of the panchayat and from other authorities. More importantly, the excavation lies in the estuarine zone and within 50 metres of the centre of the river Sal. Hence, clearance from the GCZMA is a must,” said Pereira.
“We note with regret that your (SIDCGL) contractor has commenced excavation without displaying any board with permission details. In absence of permission, the work is done illegally. Hence, we have issued oral directions to the contractor to produce all the relevant permissions before the Panchayat,” Pereira added.
