MARGAO
The Water Resources Department has directed the contractor executing the work of improvement and strengthening of the bundh in Carmona village to replant the uprooted mangroves and also plant new mangroves wherever possible on the banks of Sal River.
The WRD officials have also been directed to withdraw the department site engineer and hand over the charge to a competent engineer or technical assistant with immediate effect.
The action has been initiated by WRD Executive Engineer Ankush Gaonkar after the probe ordered by him in the Carmona mangrove destruction episode has unearthed startling facts.
Taking cognizance of the report, the Executive Engineer has pointed out that it has come to notice during the inspection that mangroves have been cut and uprooted while casting the foundation for the work of improvement and strengthening of the bundh in Carmona village.
The executive engineer has pointed out that the site engineer has failed to explain the cutting and uprooting of mangroves as there was no provision in the estimate for the cutting of mangroves.
“As of date, 40 per cent of the foundation work has been completed, but surprisingly it was not brought to my notice that the mangroves are hurdles to casting the foundation. The site order register was also not maintained as observed during the site visit,” the engineer said, adding “The act of the engineer is illegal, inappropriate and disobeys the Environment Protection Act and further liable for legal action."
As far as the contractor is concerned, the executive engineer pointed out that the act of cutting and uprooting mangroves is unjustifiable, adding that due precaution ought to have been taken while executing the work to save the mangroves.
The contractor was directed to replant the uprooted mangroves and also plant new mangroves wherever possible on the bank of the river Sal in consultation with the assistant engineer and junior engineer in charge, with immediate effect.
The cutting and uprooting of mangroves on the banks of river Sal at Camona village had triggered an uproar earlier this month, prompting the WRD Executive Engineer to order a probe into the incident.
An inspection carried out at the site in the presence of Benaulim MLA Venzy Viegas and the villagers revealed that the mangroves has been cut and uprooted while casting the foundation for the work.
