MAPUSA
Stating that the strengthening and renovation of a bundh in Nerul, Candolim was in violation of the Environment Protection Act, the Calangute Constituency Forum (CCF) has reiterated that the existing width of the bundh of 3.5 metres has been expanded to 6 to 8 metres by land filling and destroying the mangroves/biodiversity in the area.
The CCF has also said that the land filling has been done to expand the width of the existing bundh for vehicular movement in the interest of the builder lobby and further alleged that the road towards the western side of the property has been expanded in the interest of a developer who has got a project passed without proper access in the property.
“Although the project comes under the coastal regulatory zone (CRZ) line, the North Goa Planning Development Agency (NGPDA) has issued permission to it without verifying the ground reality and obtaining the no objection certificate from the Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority (GCZMA),” said Premanand Diukar, president of CCF and urged the concerned authorities to take cognizance of the matter and conduct the inspection to verify the documents.
The CCF said that in the name of development, mangroves have been destroyed while taking up the work to strengthen and renovate the existing bundh in Nerul.
The forum also said that the use of concrete and other material in the construction of a retaining wall on the side of the river was in violation of guidelines laid down as per the environment protection act and the terms mentioned in the NOC issued by GCZMA.
“The department of water resources and their contractors have blatantly violated the Environment Protection Act and destroyed the river biodiversity by cutting mangroves and using concrete for the retaining wall,” Diukar said.
He further said that the National Green Tribunal in its order stated that the width of the bundh shall not exceed 3.5 metres and the surrounding environment has to be protected.
The CCF president demanded that the development plan of the area should be dropped and redesigned on the guidelines of the eco-friendly project “ Mangroves Walk carried out at Mala (Panjim creek) “ using all eco-friendly material and by strictly maintaining the width of the walkway to 3.5 metres.
Calangute MLA Michael Lobo while recently carrying out an inspection of the ongoing work of expansion of the bundh in Nerul had said the government would beautify the place and hand it over to the local panchayat.
He said there will be a garden, a play area for children, fishing zones etc. He also said that the area would be developed into a tourist spot where visitors will be offered a kayaking experience.
