.Where would the environment be if not for public spirited individuals and the National Green Tribunal? In the doldrums, perhaps. Worse still, we would witness wanton destruction of practically every waterway, open space and green zone. This is exactly what is happening in Siolim with the blessings of Water Resources Minister Dayanand Mandrekar. What was supposed to be minor repairs to a bund is turning into full scale construction of a jetty, which local residents believe will be used to dock off-shore casinos. Their suspicions may or may not be well-grounded, but when a minister knowingly violates every law to build a jetty, one cannot help jumping to conclusions or churning out conspiracies.
While green activists rightly moved the National Green Tribunal for a stay on the construction and obtained one, the damning report against this secret project came from Dr Antonio Mascarenhas. Having been instructed by the NGT to conduct an inspection report, the upright doctor went about his job with clinical precision and the report he produced towards the end of June exposes Mandrekar’s lie that the WRD was trying to repair a bund.
One does not have to be an NIO scientist to gauge the level of construction activity at the site. A casual look at photos gives the picture of a large concrete jetty being constructed on stilts in the river without an environment impact study and clearance from the Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority. The original bund has collapsed and the presence of earth-moving machinery tells a story of deceit and plunder. In his report Dr Mascarenhas points that plans for the project were presented as repair of a bund. They were brought on the agenda at the last moment and the WRD official present at the GCZMA meet failed to make a presentation. Over a short period of time a bund metamorphosed into a concrete jetty with the government turning a blind eye.
It is at moments like this that one requires ministers like Alina Saldanha and Jairam Ramesh, who always put the environment first. That is the job of environment ministers. Unfortunately, the river Chapora is being cluttered with concrete. If the government was keen on building a jetty it should have said so instead of attempting to shove it through the backdoor. It is acts of commission like this that lends credence to the charge made by the AAP convener Arvind Kejriwal that the BJP is as corrupt as the Congress.
The report clearly states that the site where the jetty is being constructed is 50 to 60 metres upstream of the Siolim-Chopdem bridge and falls within the ambit of the CRZ rules. The water resources department wrongly presented a picture of chronic erosion along the river bank on the Siolim side and the need for erosion control measures was therefore, over stated by WRD officers. The report also states that the WRD is trying to push a massive project under the pretext of river front development, employment avenues, non-existent soil erosion, protection of houses etc. It appears that the modus operandi of the government is to commence projects without proper environment clearances (the same MO was followed in the case of the third Mandovi bridge) and then turn it into a fait accompli. Nobody is against development, but illegal development and wanton destruction of the environment is not acceptable. The jetty must be demolished and the Chapora river restored to its original state.
