MARGAO
The Guirdolim village Bio-diversity Management Committee on Thursday inspected the Naukhazan lake which has been in the news for the last few days over the land filling of the water bodies by the Railways for the track doubling work.
By evening, Chairperson of the Guirdolim Bio-diversity Management Committee Agostinho Antao forwarded a report to the Member Secretary, Goa State Bio-diveristy Board, categorically stating that mud is filled in the low-lying paddy fields of Naukhazan lake bearing survey No. 271 & 272 of Guirdolim village.
Besides Chairperson Antao, members of the Guirdolim Bio-diversity Management Committee, Ana Piedade D’Costa, Joaquina Luizinha D’Sa and Malisha Carvalho signed the letter made to the State Bio-diversity Board. Sarpanch Janety Cardozo, deputy Sarpanch Brian Pereira, besides some members were also present for the inspection.
While requesting the Bio-diversity Board to take action in the matter, sources in the know informed that the Guirdolim Bio-diversity Management Committee and the villagers are preparing the ground to move the National Green Tribunal (NGT) to stop the ongoing land filling works at the Naukhazan lake and restore the water body to its original condition.
The inspection of the water bodies allegedly filled up for the track doubling work commenced at around 12.15 and ended only at around 2.45 pm. “The Bio-diversity committee members along with the secretary conducted an inspection of all aspects of the land filling at Naukhazan lake. Finally, we compiled the report at 5.30 pm before it was sent to the State Bio-diversity Board,” Antao said.
Guirdolim panchayat had witnessed an uproar on Wednesday after the villagers laid a siege, demanding that the Panchayat Secretary make time and make himself available for an inspection of the water bodies on Thursday itself so that the Bio-diversity Management Committee compile a report of the inspection before taking a call on filing a petition in the NGT.
The village Bio-diversity Management Committee and the villagers have time till Sunday to approach a competent authority to obtain a stopwork order on the ongoing track doubling work. The Goa police have told the Rail Vikas Nigam Ltd to stop work for a period of five days, which expires on Sunday.
