MARGAO
With no letup in the land filling works to pave way for the western bypass along the Benaulim stretch on stilts, the Benaulim panchayat has prayed to the High Court to keep the ongoing reclamation work on hold till the Hydrology report is prepared.
The panchayat represented by Sarpanch Xavier Pereira has further prayed to the High Court in its application to direct the Chief Engineer, Water Resources Department after considering the recommendations of the consultancy firm Terra Hydrotech Solutions to freshly resubmit its report on the proposed bypass.
The panchayat has further prayed to the Court to direct the Public Works Department (Roads Division) and the State Highway Authority to consider the case of constructing the National Highway passing through Benaulim village on stilts.
Pending the hearing of the application, the panchayat has prayed to the Court not to permit the haphazard work of construction of the bypass by the Public Works Department (Roads Division) and the State Highway Authority.
In its application, the panchayat has contended that the safeguards contained in the Environment (Protection) Act 1986, the Wetlands (Conservation and Management Rules, 2010, the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974, the Biological Diversity Act 2002, the Biological Diversity Rules 2001, the Town and Country Planning Act 1974 and Rules 1976 and the Coastal Regulation Zone Notification 2011 have been ignored and to the detriment of the environment.
Referring to the PWD proposal to provide a number of box type cross drains in the stretch of the bypass for cross flow of rain water, the panchayat said the plight will continue and will be worse and no useful purpose will serve as compared to the stilts. “The box type culverts are low in height and do not serve the purpose. In fact it will lead to further problems and will be worse,” the panchayat stated.
Saying a proper study as regards the impact on ecology and bio diversity of the area is required to be conducted, the panchayat pointed out that as per Sec 23 of the Bio Diversity Act 2002, it is the function of the Goa State Biodiversity Board to advise the State Government on matter relating to the conservation of biodiversity and sustainable use of its components, saying the Goa State Biodiversity Board has abdicated this duty.
The application stated that if the stretch is not constructed on stilts, water-logging will affect the local coconut trees, paddy crops, ground water table, affecting the irrigation water of the farmers cultivating vegetables or any other crops/ plantations, cultivation of paddy in kharif, paddy/pulses in rabi and vegetables.
