PANAJI
The National Green Tribunal on Tuesday agreed to keep the stay order on the construction of the third Mandovi bridge in “abeyance” on condition that the State government complies with the Tribunal’s directives with regards to CRZ clearance.
The Tribunal held that the Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority has failed to comply with its directions with regard to granting CRZ clearance for the bridge.
The NGT had initially held that the work of the third Mandovi bridge be stayed till the CRZ clearance is duly obtained. However, on pleas of Advocate General Saresh Lotlikar, who gave an undertaking that the Goa State Infrastructure Development Corporation will move the State Environment Impact Assessment Authority (SEIAA) for grant of the CRZ clearance within one week, the NGT agreed to keep the stay order in abeyance on condition that the State government complies with the Tribunal’s directives.
The case has now been listed for December 6.
Earlier on April 7, this year, the NGT had directed the GSIDC to submit a fresh application to the the GCZMA along with the necessary information, including updated Environment Impact Assessment Study and CRZ classification.
The GCZMA was to consider and take a decision one month thereafter, with the entire process to be completed in four months failing which the bridge construction would be stayed until the process was completed.
In the meanwhile, the GCZMA also had to carry out inspection of construction activity to ensure that the activity does not affect the environment in an adverse manner.
But as pointed out by the petitioners, Goa Foundation, the GSIDC didn’t submit an updated EIA study to the GCZMA and instead submitted its old EIA study. They also pointed out that four months were given to the GSIDC to update its EIA.
The petitioners also pointed out that the clearance was ultimately granted by an interim body consisting of the Secretary Environment, the Director Environment.
The Goa Foundation also submitted that the CRZ clearance ought to have been granted by the SEIAA, according to the CRZ notification.
With the AG assuring the Tribunal that the government will approach the SEIAA in one week, the NGT agreed that its stay will be kept in abeyance till the next hearing.
