FRIDAY, JULY 05, 2024
Team Herald
MARGAO: The National Green Tribunal's (NGT)Western Zone Bench has offered a ray of hope to farmers and fishermen in Goa's Ponda and Salcete talukas, who have been protesting for months against the proposed constructaion of a high-level bridge over the Zuari river at Borim.
The NGT bench comprising Justice Dinesh Kumar Singh and Dr Vijay Kulkarni issued notices to the State and Central government in connection with a petition filed by residents of Borim village in Ponda and Loutolim village in Salcete. The bench issued notices to the respondents, which include the Goa government, Public Works Department (PWD), and the Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH), seeking their responses.
The petitioners have raised serious concerns about the environmental impact of the proposed bridge project and questioned the lack of proper clearances and assessments.
As per their submissions, the Zuari river, the largest in Goa, is a lifeline for the agricultural activities of local farmers and traditional fishermen in the region.
They also referred to how the existing two-lane Borim Bridge, which is part of National Highway 566 (earlier NH-17B), has been recently approved for repairs to extend its lifespan by another 20 years. However, they point out that the State government and the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) are pushing ahead with plans to construct a new bridge, citing the need for better connectivity between Ponda and Margao.
The petitioners have alleged that the new bridge project, with an estimated area exceeding 1,50,000 square metres, requires prior Environmental Clearance (EC) under the Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) Notification, 2006. However, it was submitted that the respondents have claimed that no EC is required as the project length is less than 100 km, and the additional right-of-way is less than 60 metres.
The farmers and fishermen have been opposing the project for months, staging protests and submitting written objections, citing the potential damage to their agriculture and fishing activities, which are their primary sources of livelihood. They fear that the construction of the new bridge will destroy vast stretches of ecologically sensitive lands, including khazan lands (reclaimed saline wetlands), mangroves, and fish breeding water bodies.
The petitioners have also questioned the selection of the proposed alignment (Alternative Alignment No 7), alleging that no consideration has been given to the environmental impact while choosing this option. They have alleged that no EIA studies have been carried out, and no final detailed project report has been prepared, contrary to the recommendations in the project's inception report.
The petitioners have specifically requested the NGT to direct the respondents, including the Chief Secretary of the State Government, PWD Executive Engineer (EE) Works Division XV (NH), PWD Chief Engineer (CE) (NH, R&B) and MoRTH, to reconsider or redesign the selection of the alternative alignment for the proposed bridge on NH-17B (NH-566). The petitioners argue that the present design and alignment of the project fail to identify and consider the presence of Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) areas, forest areas, and the need for environmental preservation, as well as the impact on these eco-sensitive areas and the people dependent on them for their livelihoods. Furthermore, they have sought directions to prevent the EE and the CE from proceeding with the project without first obtaining a prior EC under the EIA Notification, 2006.
During the hearing, the NGT bench directed the petitioners' counsel to provide evidence to substantiate the claim that the project area exceeds 1,50,000 square metres, which would necessitate prior EC. The tribunal has given the petitioners four weeks to submit the required evidence.
The next hearing in the case has been scheduled for July 24, when the NGT will consider the admissibility of the petition based on the evidence provided by the petitioners.
