MARGAO
After taking up the issue right with the National Green Tribunal (NGT), this Benaulim-based activist waging a battle against the construction of the Western bypass sans stilts has now knocked the doors of the Bombay High Court.
Reason: Activist Royla Fernandes says the national highway authority had in the past tried to bulldoze with the construction of the Western bypass on the plea that the government has received directions from the High Court in a suo moto writ petition.
What has prompted her to knock on the doors of the High Court was a news report quoting PWD Minister Deepak Pauskar in a section of the media that the government is going ahead with the construction of the balance 2.75 km portion of the bypass passing through the villages of Seraulim and Benaulim in view of the High Court directions.
She has prayed to the court to pass directions that she be impleaded as an intervenor as party-respondent in the Public Interest Litigation. She has further prayed that the parties be directed to furnish the intervenor with copies of the affidavits filed by them in the PIL.
Royla told the media that the PWD Minister cannot make statements that the PWD is resuming work on the balance portion of the bypass when the NGT had constituted a 10-member panel, with Goa Environment Impact Assessment Authority and Goa State Pollution Control Board as the nodal agencies.
“When we are all waiting for the 10-member team to prepare a plan of action vis-Ã -vis the points raised in respect of flooding of the flood plains and submit the report the NGT, the PWD Minister cannot speak of going ahead with the construction of the bypass after the monsoons,” she said.
