PANJIM: The construction of the Captain of Ports (CoP) terminal building in Mandovi River is allegedly in gross violation of all environmental norms and shows shocking abuse of power.
The Goa State Environment Impact Authority, which conducted an inspection of the project on Thursday, found that except for the purported National Green Tribunal (NGT) clearance, there are no documents to show permissions.
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“This monstrous building with three floors is 40 metres into the river, 100 metres wide and the piling is 40 metres deep into the river bed. So far the building does not have the clearances from the Goa State Environment Impact Authority. After the site inspection the Captain of Ports (CoP) assured to produce all papers by next Wednesday,” Activist Joe Gomes stated.
The inspection was carried out after Gomes filed a complaint with the Goa State Environment Impact Authority.
Calls made to the Captain of Ports James Braganza to clarify on the issue, were not answered nor returned.
“The proposed three-storied building will have two restaurants and offices, which can only be for a commercial purpose,” Gomes said.
“This building will cause a lot of damage to the marine ecology of the river. The ‘double engine sarkar’ doesn’t give a damn about development,” he opined.
“Construction and environmental permissions are only for the common man and not for the government,” Gomes rued saying that the Captain of Ports openly violated all rules and regulations, while starting the construction of the terminal building of Captain of Ports. “This is the highhandedness of the government,” Gomes added.
“The Captain of Ports building in River Mandovi is completely against the law. How can you construct a building in a river?” Dr Joe D’Souza, retired professor and environmentalist questioned.
“One cannot construct in a No Development Zone (NDZ). There is no chalta number. Buildings can be constructed only in settlement zone. In the water body one cannot do development. Pocket money has been paid to the MLAs to do such work. Where there is money, there is power,” he said.
The 40m deep piling work has sounded the death knell of fish nurseries and the ecology of River Mandovi. Rock-fish, cod, oysters and other local fish varieties will die with the poison from the concrete poured into the river, Dr Joe pointed out.
“This is a hospital for the fish where fish come, lay eggs, breed and grow,” Dr Joe informed.
Presently, a case which was filed in the High Court by Dr Joe D’Souza, which is now transferred to the National Green Tribunal, is pending before it. Is there no place to put up CoP building in the entire Panjim? Why do you have to construct in the water? he asked.
As a frustrated citizen Dr Joe said this BJP government has become third rate.
“They have finished Goa with the three linear projects,” he added.
He also attacked the Congress MLAs for not making noise about the issues pertaining to Goa’s destruction.
