MARGAO: Two weeks have passed, the nodal agencies are yet to convene a meeting as per directions of NGT on the Western Bypass project. NGT had directed the nodal agencies to convene a meeting within two weeks.
On Wednesday, petitioner Royla Fernandes has asked one of the nodal agencies, the Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB), to update on the issue.
The National Green Tribunal (NGT) in its order of June 23 had asked that the joint committee must include members from the State-level Environment Impact Assessment Authority, Public Works Department, Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority, Collector South Goa, Water Resources Department, State Pollution Control Board, and representatives from the National Wetland Authority and the Forest Department. The tribunal said the committee should hold a meeting in two weeks, after which it should prepare and execute a plan of action.
However, two weeks passed on July 6, and the nodal agencies, namely GSPCB and Goa Environment Assessment Authority appointed by NGT is yet to convey the meeting as per the NGT order.
In the order, the NGT’s Principal Bench, New Delhi had also asked the State administration to set up a 10-member committee to study the proposal to construct a 2.75-km-long Western Bypass through Benaulim and Seraulim.
The NGT stated that the joint committee must include members from the State-level Environment Impact Assessment Authority, Public Works Department, Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority, Collector South Goa, Water Resources Department, State Pollution Control Board, and representatives from the National Wetland Authority and the Forest Department. The tribunal said the committee should hold a meeting in two weeks, after which it should prepare and execute a plan of action.
Royla said that as a petitioner she has asked the GSPCB about the updates on the status of the matter. “I have found out that a meeting is yet to be convened, as the two weeks’ time given by the NGT has expired. As per the order, the nodal agency was supposed to call out the meeting with all the concerned authorities within two weeks,” she stated.
She also requested Shamila Monteiro, Member Secretary of GSPCB, to allow them to make a personal hearing or personal presentation to the entire committee.
“I want all the people especially from Seraulim, Benaulim, and other affected people to support us by giving suggestions to achieve the dream to have a western bypass on stilts”, added Royla.
She appealed to the people to share the experiences of floods in all these years so that they can share the videos to the committee. “Even, recently we have all seen the flooding at Mungul, Benaulim, and other areas”, she stated.
