Team Herald
PANJIM: Goa Foundation has filed a fresh application before the National Green Tribunal (NGT), Pune seeking a stay on the construction of the third and fourth pillars/piers of the third Mandovi Bridge, the work of which is currently underway.
Goa Foundation, in its application, filed earlier this month, stated that commencement of work on the third pillar is a breach of the explicit statements made by the government’s counsel that no construction of new pillars in the river would be made, until the NGT passes its final judgment. “If the stay is not granted then the respondent will do the same with construction of fourth pillar,” it reads.
“This Hon’ble Tribunal may be pleased to pass an order restraining the respondents from proceeding any further or initiating and completing any work on piers/pillars 3 and 4 of the impugned bridge construction,” GF director Dr Claude Alvares has prayed.
The Union Ministry for Road Transport, State government, Goa State Infrastructure Development Corporation (GSIDC), Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority (GCZMA) and the Goa State Environment Impact Assessment Authority (SEIAA) are respondents in the matter.
“The commencement of work on the third pillar is a breach of the explicit statements made by counsel for the government that no construction of new pillars in the river would be made,” GF said.
“Applicant is, however, unable to seek initiation of contempt proceedings as there is no order passed by this Hon’ble Tribunal explicitly forbidding the new construction in view of the understanding orally provided by the counsel for the respondents, which is now sought to be breached,” it added.
GF had on July 27, 2015 filed an application seeking a stay on construction of a new pillar. “Thereafter, after preliminary hearings, this Hon’ble Tribunal has been pleased to pass several restraining orders against the bridge construction agencies in view of the facts that have emerged during the hearings,” the petitioner said.
“When this Hon’ble Tribunal was convinced it should pass an appropriate order restraining the construction of any pillars/piers beyond the two close to both the banks of the river on which construction had already started, counsel for the government and the agencies involved in construction of the bridge submitted they would not carry out any such construction of new or additional piers/pillars till the final hearing of the application,” it added.
The petitioner informed that on finding ongoing construction of the third pillar, a fresh affidavit was filed before the Tribunal seeking fresh stay.
