Dear Srinet Kotwale, Member Secretary GCZMA I am also in the opinion although I was living in that area ( Portais) earlier for so many years that this bridge from Patto to Four Pillars at St Cruz ( over the Ourem Creek ) is a MUST not only for the congestion sake point of view but it is shortening a distance by at least one kilometer, and the residents from Portais, Mala and even St Cruz are happy if that is built even without EIA clearance. Please go ahead.
However you (Srinet) is still in dark about the work going on in full swing at Aivao for NIWS ( National Water Sports ) which is neither has EIA nor any approvals from CRZ and other authorities, as it comes under CRZ limits. This project was shelved since 2005 onwards You have neither clarified to the public nor it has been discussed in your committee about it. Alina Saldanha also is kept mum on this project. Google mapping shows that limitation of distance where this project is coming up is within the CRZ zone. and it is at low lying area. Recently CM Manohar Parrikar has inaugurated part of this project construction in haste so that it carries out quickly, as he has smelled some opposition from the villagers of Aivao and D.Paula. Will you clarify this case although your earlier committee sent by you headed by a Retd Judge Afonso Araujo who told us ( Myself and Dr.Joe ) while they were inspecting was in the opinion that this comes under CRZ and he said that he will instruct the Dept to issue a show cause notice immediately which never came. Another project at Mala , Portais a huge project is also coming at low lying area, please investigate this massive construction and ask to stop it/abandon this project with modifications. Stephen Dias D.Paula Date: 16th Oct 2014 ====================================================================================== PANAJI: The Goa coastal zone management authority (GCZMA) has granted permission to Goa state infrastructure development corporation (GSIDC) to build a bridge across Rua de Ourem creek in the city. The bridge is expected to shorten the distance from South-eastern parts of the city and its suburbs in St Cruz at least by a kilometre and help decongesting the area. The Ourem creek is lined with lush green mangrove trees and the Mala side columns for the bridge will be located inside the creek whereas the Patto side columns will be located on the bank. Srinet Kotwale, member secretary of GCZMA, said under CRZ rules, bridges are a permitted activity. Normally, it is checked if bridge columns interfere or block tidal flow. The GCZMA members also raised a question on whether environment impact assessment (EIA) is required to be carried out. The member secretary pointed out that normally bridges do not require EIA. Building of the bridge will also require removal of some portion of the mangroves to make space for proposed columns of the bridge. The decision to grant permission for the bridge was taken after GCZMA's expert team conducted site inspection and submitted its report. When permissions are given to projects of such nature, he said the applicant is asked to compensate loss by cultivating mangroves in the same area. With GCZMA giving the project a green signal, GSIDC Ltd, will now have to obtain other required permissions from the local authorities which should not consume much time. The bridge is expected to shorten the distance from south-eastern parts of the city and its suburbs in St Cruz at least by a kilometre and help decongest the area. Building of the bridge will require removal of some portion of the mangroves that line the Ourem creek to make space for proposed columns of the bridge.
