PANAJI
The Expert Appraisal Committee (EAC) of the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) has recommended CRZ clearance for the proposed Rs 360-crore bridge connecting Chorao island with the mainland, while directing the Goa State Infrastructure Development Corporation (GSIDC) to minimise the removal of mangroves and reduce the project’s ecological footprint.
The proposed 1.62-km arch bridge, including approach roads, is expected to require the removal of around 621 mangrove trees -- 449 on the Salvador-do-Mundo side and 172 on the Chorao side. The project involves construction of 20 pillars with deep pile foundations extending up to 35 metres, with several pillars planned in riverine and mangrove-rich areas classified as CRZ-III No Development Zone.
The EAC, while recommending the proposal to the Ministry for CRZ clearance, said the ecological sensitivity of the area warranted efforts to avoid or minimise mangrove damage. It suggested optimisation of the location and configuration of piers, including relocating them towards the creek area wherever technically feasible. Following the directions, GSIDC submitted a revised proposal reducing the number of piers on the Salvador-do-Mundo side from 12 to nine and modifying their locations. The move is expected to reduce mangrove removal by approximately 100 trees.
The project proponent has also submitted a Mangrove Management Plan proposing replantation at a 1:5 ratio at suitable nearby riverine locations. Accordingly, around 3,105 mangrove trees are proposed to be replanted. The EAC directed that the survival and ecological success of the plantation be monitored and independently verified every year by a reputed institution. The verification report will have to be submitted to the concerned Integrated Regional Office along with the six-monthly compliance report. An Environmental Management Plan has also earmarked Rs 1 crore for environmental management measures.
The committee further directed GSIDC to take all precautionary measures during construction and operation to protect river water quality and adjoining mangrove ecosystems. It specifically stated that the natural hydrological regime and flow characteristics of the Mapusa River and adjoining intertidal areas must not be disturbed. The EAC also stressed that all mitigation measures and environmental safeguards prescribed in the Environmental Impact Assessment, Environmental Management Plan and Disaster Management Plan must be implemented throughout the construction and operational phases.
