Special Correspondent

Panaji, Dec 28: Goa Cricket Association (GCA) has given an undertaking to the High Court on Monday that they will halt the construction work on the new stadium at Thivim, 15 kms away from here, till further court orders.

GCA Secretary Prasad Phatarpekar in a written undertaking has told the court that the work on international cricket stadium will be stopped. The Bombay high court at Goa is hearing a case against the stadium filed by a local NGO, which has claimed that the project has not done Environment impact assessment (EIA) report.

Goa Foundation, a NGO, had told the court that more than 100 trees have been felled by the GCA and the work is going on without mandatory permission including licence from local panchayat.

The court  has fixed the matter on December 31 for further orders.

The NGO had pointed out to the court that the EIA (environment impact assessment) notification of September 2006 does not permit even land preparation work at any site until project authorities have obtained an environment clearance order.

Several locals and the NGO had filed public interest litigation against the stadium which is being heard by the court.

The stadium planned by GCA is having 45,000 seating capacity and was likely to be completed by 2013.