MAPUSA: The Bastora Bio-Diversity Committee member Andrew D’Souza complained to the Town and Country Planning Department, Deputy Collector and Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority (GCZMA) that the Water Resources Department (WRD) had failed to clear the mud from the field at Bastora, which led to flooding.
Earlier, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) had directed the WRD to clear the temporary embankment carried out in the middle of the Mapusa Tar River.
It may recalled that in February, the Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority (GCZMA) had directed the WRD to clear the temporary embankment carried out in the middle of the Mapusa River within 15 days.
In the process of desilting, the contractor excavated and dumped over 100 trucks of silt in an agricultural field in Bastora in close proximity to the new underpass. Since the mud in the field was now in level with the road, flooding was witnessed in Bastora this year during the monsoon.
Taking advantage of this, the tenant has allegedly commenced flattening the silt thus filling the low lying area which is a rice paddy field and an ecologically sensitive area which suffered flooding during the last monsoon season in 2018.
“Land filling is not permitted without permission under Section 17 A of the Goa Town and Country Planning Act, 1974. It is surprising that no action has been taken till date and it seems the palms of the officials have been greased. No action has been taken in the matter despite this glaring illegality, which has been occasioned by the use of over 100 trucks. I have requested the officials to take action immediately within seven days of receipt of this notice with due intimation of the same failing which I will be constrained to approach the High Court,” said Andrew.
“This year flooding was witnessed in Bastora and there was knee length water in this area because the mud in their field is in level with the road. Due to this illegality carried out of filling a low lying area which is a rice paddy field and an ecologically sensitive area,” he added.
