Team Herald
PANJIM: As the expert panel points out destruction of khazan land and mangrove forest during the ongoing construction work of six-lane Zuari Bridge, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) has directed State government authorities to take steps to restore the protected areas and submit compliance report.
During the hearing on December 5, NGT Principal Bench pointed out that there are several non-compliances by the executing authority of the project which is the State Public Works Department (PWD).
NGT was hearing an application filed by Rainbow Warrier’s alleging that construction debris are being disposed off in Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) areas, Mangrove Conservation and Management Plan have not been provided prior to commencement of work at site.
The applicant had further alleged that construction is being carried out by reclaiming CRZ-I areas indiscriminately felling mangroves in order to carry out ancillary activities in violation of the Environment Clearance. NGT had accordingly constituted a committee to inspect the project site and submit the report.
The committee noted that the contractor has done land filling in khazan land along the sides of Goa Velha, Agassaim and Siridao side of the project.
“The khazan land is a CRZ-I area, and the said cannot be land filled without any purpose for public use,” the committee said while recommending that the said land filling should be removed from the khazan land area soon.”
The committee also noted cutting of mangroves and recommended that the same be restored.
“It would appear from the report that there are several non compliances by the executing authority of the project which is the State PWD,” NGT said.
“We are, therefore, of the opinion that the GCZMA and the Department of Forest, Goa, shall take steps in accordance with law to implement the recommendations of the committee in relation to their respective jurisdictions, namely, the Mangrove Forests and the Coastal Zone Areas and file action taken reports before the next date,” it added. The next date of hearing is scheduled on February 6, 2020.
