Rupesh Samant

Panaji, Aug 30: The National Green Tribunal (NGT), New Delhi on Tuesday constituted a committee to inspect the ongoing work on a six-lane bridge across River Zuari near here after an NGO filed a case before it, alleging violations of Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) violations in the construction of the project.

The NGT on Tuesday constituted a committee comprising of the official from Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority, Goa State Environment Impact Assessment Authority and Goa Pollution Control Board who will inspect the project and verify factual aspects and issues raised by the applicant and submit the report.

Goa-based NGO Federation of Rainbow Warriors in their petition before NGT had alleged that the project had not complied with the condition of the Coastal Regulation Zone clearance issued by Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority on December 1, 2015 for construction of a four/six lane bridge across river Zuari on National Highway-17.

The petition had alleged that the construction debris was being disposed off in Coastal Regulation Zone areas, Mangrove Conservation and Management Plan has not been provided prior to commencement of work at site. There is failure to monitor ambient air quality, noise level and ground and surface water required to be done through the construction phase and to be prominently displayed at the site.

The NGO had also alleged that the construction is being carried out by reclaiming Coastal Regulation Zone –I areas and that there is indiscriminate felling of mangroves in order to carry out ancillary activities which are in violation of the clearance.

“Although the Environment Clearance (EC) granted is only for the bridge component of the project, work has been commenced with also in respect of the elevated approaches for which no prior CRZ clearance has been obtained,” the application reads.