MARGAO
The National Green Tribunal, Western Branch has issued notices to the authorities in respect of the petition filed by the residents of Loutolim and Borim demanding reconsideration of the existing route and section of an alternative route for the new High level Borim bridge.
Social activist Abhijit Prabhudesai informed that the petition filed by the applicants from both Borim and Loutolim had come up for hearing before the NGT bench on Friday. After hearing the lawyer representing the applicants, the NGT has issued notices to the authorities to file their replies to the petition.
Prabhudesai said the petitioners have made the Ministry of Road Surface Transport, Goa PWD, GCZMA, besides Forest Department and others as parties in the matter.
The petitioner had knocked the doors of the NGT with a prayer to direct the Chief Secretary, Government of Goa, Executive Engineer, Works Division XV (NH), Public Works Department, Chief Engineer (NH, R&B), Public Works Department and Ministry of Road Transport & Highways to reconsider or re-design and selection of the alternative for proposed construction of High Level New Borim Bridge on NH-17B (NH-566) in Goa on the ground the present design/alignment of the project fails to identify and consider the presence of CRZ areas, forest areas and environmental preservation and the impact on these eco-sensitive areas and the people dependent on these areas. They had further prayed to issue directions to these authorities not to proceed with the project without first obtaining a prior Environment Clearance under the EIA Notification, 2006.
The petitioners had contended before the NGT that Zuari river is the largest river in Goa, passing through Talukas of Tiswadi, Ponda, Mormugao, Salcete, Sanguem and Quepem, which is a tidal river affected by the tides of the Arabian Sea. “Extensive areas of saline wetlands of river Zuari have been reclaimed about 4000 years ago by the indigenous communities of the villages. They have made bandhs of clay and other natural material, large expanses of fertile agricultural lands, an intricate system of fish breeding water bodies and tidally operated sluice gates linking them to the river, which are collectively known as the Khazan lands,” the petition stated.
The petitioners further contended that the khazan lands are protected under Clause 8(V)(3) of the CRZ Notification, 2011, which is an area requiring special consideration for CRZ.
“River Zuari forms the lifeline for agricultural activities for local farmers. The existing Borim Bridge is running over Zuari river and connects the village of Borim and other parts of Ponda taluka to Margao city and other parts of Salcete taluka and South Goa District.”
