The National Green Tribunal’s direction to constitute a ten-member committee to study the objections raised regarding the construction of western bypass on the 2.75 km Benaulim-Seraulim stretch comes as a major setback to those who have been bulldozing the project against the fears of the villagers.
People from the two villages have been demanding that the 2.75 km stretch of the bypass be built on stilts to avoid flooding, inundation of houses and stagnation of water. However, the State government and the various agencies including the Bio-diversity Board, Wetland Authority of Goa and the Water Resources Department have not been in agreement with the villagers over the damage the project would cause to the ecosystem. Consistent demands to build the 2.75 km portion of the project on stilts have been turned down primarily because of the high costs involved. Instead, measures such as two bridges and 14 additional water outlets have been proposed as alternatives.
The NGT has contended that the construction of the highway should be consistent with the principle of sustainable development and necessary safeguards need to be in place to protect wetlands, water bodies and other environmental resources. The green tribunal said the construction should not destroy biodiversity and other environmental resources, including water bodies and wetlands while stating that the plains of River Sal need to be protected.
The inference that one draws is that the green tribunal has stressed the disturbance of the environment and has seen it as deleterious and undesirable given the impact it could have on natural resources and habitats. While the NGT directive reignites new hopes for the agitating villagers of Benaulim and Seraulim, it once again opens up the argument that the green tribunal and the courts have become the common man’s last resort.
Unfortunately, time and again the NGT and the judiciary have to be engaged to safeguard the environment, green lands, water bodies against rampant destruction happening in the name of development. We have reached a stage where the common citizens have to fall back on the judiciary for even their basic right to a living or to fight injustices meted out, leave alone the environment. One may ponder here, what would have been the state of affairs if there was no such recourse available. And what kind of Goan identity would the State be left with if concerned citizens would not step forward to raise a red flag?
The argument that there will be no flooding if River Sal is desilted pales out against the backdrop of the inundation witnessed only a week back. A day's rainfall was enough to submerge the low-lying field from Seraulim to Tolleabandh lake in Benaulim. The question is, how do authorities expect River Sal to withstand heavy rainfall of the season. Where does the farming community stand in such situations? Why has there been no conscious move to understand the ground reality and consider at least stilts in critical areas along the 2.75 km stretch?
Western bypass on stilts would cost big money, but having said that, we can’t allow an ecological disaster to submerge us on the sidelines of development. The lush green fields and the water bodies are the DNA of Goa’s unique identity and need to be safeguarded.
