SURAJ NANDREKAR
suraj@herald-goa.com
PANJIM: Strange it may sound but it is the truth. The Goa State Infrastructure Development Corporation (GSIDC), which is on verge of completing the third Mandovi Bridge, had assured the National Green Tribunal (NGT) of minimum damage to mangroves and that those cut would be transplanted.
Shocking? GSIDC told the Tribunal that the mangroves dislocation will only to be to the extent of the total pile-cap area of 1,517 sq mts.
“It is stated that in order to minimise damage to the mangroves and environment, the entire road is being constructed as an elevated bridge rather than an embankment. In case the road was constructed as an embankment, the mangroves would have been affected in an area of 15,299 sq mts. Since the road is being constructed as an elevated bridge, mangroves would be affected in an area of only 1517 sq mts,” then GSIDC MD Sanjith Rodrigues had said in the undertaking.
The undertaking adds, “In order to further minimise damage to the environment and eco-system it is stated that area where the piers are located, at those places, instead of cutting the mangroves it will be our endeavour to try and transplant the mangroves.”
GSIDC assured that if any mangrove tends to obstruct working area around the pier, the said mangrove will only be pruned to the bare minimum extent.
“Existing habitat along the project area would be maintained by utmost precaution and further enhanced on completion of the project,” Rodrigues stated.
Come 2019, GSIDC has violated all norms in haste of completing the bridge before elections, say experts.
Environmentalist and social activist Claude Alvares laughed off at the undertaking saying ‘he had never heard of transplanting of mangroves anywhere’. “Despite giving this assurance they have just destroyed all mangroves which came their way,” said Alvares.
The social activist said that in the haste to complete the bridge before the forthcoming election, the government was going all guns blazing. “Bridge is something which has to be constructed with all precaution. What is the issue if one party or other inaugurates it?” he asked.
Former Goa University Scientist Dr Joe D’Souza slightly differed from Alvares’ standing stating though ‘transplanting is difficult it isn’t impossible’. “However, for the transplantation the GSIDC should have prepared earlier. Right now they have totally destroyed the mangroves and I don’t think transplanting is possible,” he said.
D’Souza said that though transplanting of mangrove is possible it would be financially unviable here.
“Instead they should have grown more mangroves and cut those obstructing the work later,” he said.
According to him the effects of mangrove destruction will be huge on marine life on ecology.
