Following a report in the Times of India, the division bench of the Bombay High Court at Goa took suo moto cognizance of the proposed bypass road for NH 17 involving the construction of the twin bridges at Galgibaga and Talpona as it could adversely affect the turtle nesting sites here and the construction is within the purview of Coastal Regulation Zone.
The 45-metre width land for the road stretch from char Rasta to Mashem was acquired years back -- incidentally with a compensation of a ridiculous Rs. 3 per square metre. The approach road on the south end of Galgibaga River is already completed with massive embankments that have drastically altered the natural flow of water. Goa State Coastal Zone Management Authority has in a letter dated 26th April 2010 directed the Public Works Department to stop work on the bypass road. It is learnt that the necessary prior clearance under the CRZ Notification of 1991 was not obtained by the government in this regard. Nor was the Ministry of Environment and Forest consulted before clearing the project.
