Villagers of St Estevam on Sunday said that the bridge
being built for linking Cumbharjua and St Estevam will have a catastrophic
effect on the environment in the surrounding areas. The bridge built by the Goa
State Infrastructure Development Corporation (GSIDC) linking Cumbharjua and St
Estevam village has hit a roadblock as the villagers, who claim that necessary
clearance has not been obtained by the GSIDC. The villagers challenged the said
construction before the Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority (GCZMA). The
Authority had issued directions to the GSIDC to stop the work of the bridge in
May 2022.
The
bridge built by the GSIDC linking Cumbharjua and St Estevam village has hit a
roadblock as the villagers, who claim that necessary clearance is not obtained
by the GSIDC.
The
villagers challenged the said construction before the GCZMA
The government began construction of the bridge for local
farmers to cross-river stream for cultivation of fields from Chune-Kator to
Vanso field in village of Cumbharjua.
A section of St Estevam villagers including one member of
the St Estevam Biodiversity Management Committee opposed the bridge on the
grounds that this project will destroy the khazans, crocodile habitat and
pisciculture.
The GCZMA has reportedly completed the hearing of the
concerned parties and is expected to soon pass an order in the matter.
Villagers also filed a petition before the National Green Tribunal.
“The project is pushed without obtaining permissions from
the concerned authorities, land has also not been acquired and government has also
not obtained the NOC from the owners of the affected properties,” a villager
said.
Another villager said, “Mud has been dumped in the thick
mangrove area on the Cumbharjua side, where the bridge is being built. This
area falls under the CRZ regulations and we must protect it. We don’t want
development at the cost of our environment. One bridge already exists and in
addition, a ferry boat is functional at Daujim. We feel that they want to build
this bridge to benefit the builder lobby.”
One of the petitioners on the condition of anonymity said
that if the order of the GCZMA is not in the interest of the village then
villagers will challenge it before the High Court.
