Construction of road should not result in destruction of biodiversity: NGT
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‘There can be no doubt that water bodies, wetlands, mangroves and other natural resources need to be protected’
Construction of a road could also be a necessity but it surely should should not result in destruction of the biodiversity, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) mentioned on Wednesday whereas forming a committee to observe compliance of environmental norms throughout building of a stretch of Margao National Highway Western Bypass in Goa.
A bench headed by NGT Chairperson Justice Adarsh Kumar Goel mentioned the development of the road in query should be per the precept of sustainable improvement i.e adopting safeguards for defense of wetlands, water our bodies and different environmental sources.
“There can be no doubt that water bodies, wetlands, mangroves and other natural resources need to be protected. While construction of a road may be a necessity, such construction should not result in destruction of bio-diversity and other environmental resources, including water bodies and wetlands. Flood plains of river Sal also need to be protected. The studies referred to in the application support the need for such protection,” the bench mentioned.
The NGT directed structure of a ten-member joint Committee comprising State Environment Impact Assessment Authority Goa, Goa State Biodiversity Board, Goa State Wetland Authority, PWD, Goa, Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority, District Magistrate, South Goa, Water Resources Department, State PCB, a nominee of National Wetland Authority and a nominee of PCCF (HoFF), Goa. “The State PCB and SEIAA, Goa will be the nodal agency for coordination and compliance. A meeting of the Committee may be held within two weeks and after taking stock of the situation, plan of action may be prepared and executed. The Committee may also undertake visit to the site as early as possible. An action taken report may be filed within three months by e-mail,” the bench mentioned.
The matter is listed for subsequent listening to on November 10, 2021.
The tribunal was listening to a plea filed by Royla C Fernandes in opposition to violations of environmental norms in building of stability stretch of Margao National Highway Western Bypass Road by means of the villages Seraulim to Benaulim, which is 2.75Km from wholesale fish market road Seraulim to Varca road.
The road is being constructed by the PWD, Goa by means of Venkata Rao Infra Projects Pvt. Ltd., Caranzalem, Goa.
According to the plea, the Margao National Highway Western Bypass has already been constructed from Nuvem village upto Seraulim fish market by means of Khanzan lands/wetlands and agricultural lands. It is additional to be constructed from wholesale fish market road Seraulim to Varca road (Ch. 31/900 to Ch.34/650), south Goa by destroying the massive wetlands/khazan lands, agricultural lands and water our bodies of the mentioned villages.
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