MARGAO
The 10-member National Green Tribunal (NGT) panel’s recommendation for a modified Western bypass alignment with 980 metres elevated structure may result in project cost escalation, from the present estimated Rs 148.41 crore to Rs 218.94 crore, but the recommendation will avoid filling up and part diversion of the river Sal for a 200-meter course, and filling up of a water body.
The panel’s recommendation implies that around 980 meters of the total 2.75 km of the balance portion of the bypass from Seraulim to Benaulim will now come up on an elevated road.
The bigger question, however, remains unanswered “ why was the Union Surface Transport Ministry as well as the PWD, National Highways, all along trying to bulldoze its way with the construction of the balance 2.75 km stretch passing through the flood plains of river Sal, even though the alignment had envisaged filling up of river Sal for a length of about 200 meters and that the alignment would run along the river banks for an additional length of 260 metres.
This question assumes significance and comes at a time when the Union Surface Transport Ministry boasts of executing road projects worth thousands of crores of rupees across the country, since as per the NGT-appointed panel, it would have cost the exchequer around Rs 346.3 crore to build the entire 2.75 km balance stretch of the Margao bypass on stilts passing through the flood
plains of river Sal and the wetlands of Benaulim and Seraulim.
A glance at the minutes of the meeting of the NGT-appointed panel members held on October 5 shows that the members discussed and deliberated on all the three alternative scenarios and decided to recommend the modified approach with 0.98 km elevated structure, which will lead to an increase in the cost of the project from present estimated Rs 148.41 crore to Rs 218.94 crore approx, a cost escalation by around Rs 70.46 crore.
The modified approach, which has been submitted to the NGT and will come up for deliberations and consideration before the Panaji bench of the High Court, however, is categorical in saying that the modified approach will avoid filling of a water body and part diversion of river on the stretch between Seraulim and Mungul.
A further glance at the minutes of the October 5 meeting showed that the members had noted from the calculation jointly prepared by the PWD and WRD that the existing maximum height of water retained is 98.53 mts, whereas with the original alignment of proposed bypass the maximum height of water shall be 1.006 mt i.e. there would be increased of 2.07 cms in the water level.
The members have further noted that with the revised/modified proposal, the maximum height of water retained shall be 99.93 mts. i.e. increase in the water level by 1.4 cms as against the earlier rise of 2.07 cms. And, in the instance the entire stretch is constructed on elevated structure, the members noted that the maximum height of water retained shall be 99.99 cms i.e. a difference of only 0.06 cms which is negligible. At the same time, the member pointed out that it would lead to a high escalation in cost with very negligible benefit.
Why was the WRD report not taken seriously?
MARGAO: While the NGT-constituted panel has now recommended construction of an elevated road for a stretch admeasuring 980 metres, the Water Resources Department (WRD) had in its report highlighted how the 2.75 km balance stretch of the Western bypass would affect the river Sal as well as the flood plains of the river.
For reasons best known to WRD officials, the department did not recommend construction of an elevated road along the 2.75 km bypass, but had recommended only a small bridge over the river and shifting of the alignment.
The WRD report, however, had clearly brought to the fore that the proposed bypass alignment envisages filling of the river for a length of 200 meters and the bypass runs along the banks for an additional length of 260 meters.
The WRD report had further highlighted the fact that a water body of about 150 meters (left) away from the Colva bridge towards Colva bridge and three fish ponds (depressed area) are within the alignment.
The report further states that the proposed embankment runs parallel to the river and divides the flood plains and will have a damning effect on the flood water.
