SHWETA KAMAT
shweta@herald-goa.com
PANJIM: As the new six-lane Zuari Bridge will be built on 24 piers leading to morphological modification in the river, Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority (GCZMA) has directed Public Works Department (PWD) to undertake a fresh marine environment impact assessment (EIA). The exercise will study the riverine morphology and eventual impact of an additional parallel structure coming up along the two existing bridges – old Zuari bridge and the Konkan Railway bridge.
The need for a fresh and detailed EIA study was raised after the GCZMA expert committee pointed out that the Konkan Railway viaduct was affected by sinking, over a long period even after the track was commissioned, as the river already had the pressure of the existing road bridge. Hence this geological phenomenon needs to be evaluated with respect to the designs for the new bridge.
“Of primary concern/importance is the effect that the new bridge columns will have within/on the river system, as both the banks are characterized by productive mud flats. Since two bridges (road and railway) are already in place, an EIA is imperative to study the riverine morphology and the eventual impacts of an additional parallel structure,” the site inspection observation says.
“It is well known that any impediment/obstruction to the regular tidal flow of any river induces morphological modifications in the immediate vicinity,” it added.
“Detailed environmental impact assessment is being done in respect of the entire project to check possible adverse impacts on the environment and suggested monitoring and mitigation measures to be followed accordingly,” the panel stated.
GCZMA, during its Board meeting last month, gave its nod for construction of the new bridge under the coastal regulation zone (CRZ) notification. The foundation stone for the Rs 3000 crore project is expected to be laid on December 26.
The expert panel noted that Zuari river is home to extensive mud flats and the river stretches from Agassaim to Siridao, and from Cortalim to Chicalim are characterized by two largest mud flats within the rivers of Goa. “The 4 major columns of the bridge would be positioned precisely on the shallow mud flats along either bank. These features are prominently exposed at low tide. The impact of the bridge on these productive mud flats needs to be ascertained through a marine EIA,” it stated.
The panel recommended that the alterations in the morphology of the adjacent banks may need to be looked into and so also the modification in the bathymetry of the area with regard to the stability of the piers needs to be studied.
While directing that the construction be carried out under CRZ guidelines, GCZMA has asked PWD to put up an environment management plan and disaster management plan in place on priority.
