Says debris removal alone won’t help with areas restoration
Panaji: The High Court of Bombay at Goa on Monday directed the Goa State Biodiversity Board and the Chief Conservator of Forests to inspect sites in Murda comunidade and Merces where mangroves were allegedly damaged by the dumping of construction debris, and prepare a restoration plan to help revive the affected ecosystem.
The team has been directed to prepare a feasibility report on excavating a trench to prevent future unauthorised dumping of construction debris. It has also been asked to recommend the planting of indigenous species to help restore the affected ecosystem.
A division bench of Justice Valmiki Menezes and Justice Hiten Venegavkar issued the directions while hearing a public interest litigation filed by Kashinath Shetye and others over the alleged destruction of mangroves in Murda and Merces (Morombi-O-Pequeno).
Advocate General Devidas Pangam stated that several sites in Murda, covered under Survey Nos. 93/1 to 93/10 and 93/12 to 93/19, had been cleared of debris following recommendations made in June.
The court, however, observed that merely removing the debris would not achieve environmental restoration.
It stated that the affected sites must be restored to their original condition as mangroves and khazan land, as recorded in the Regional Plan.
To ensure permanent restoration, it directed the Biodiversity Board and Chief Conservator to inspect Survey No. 93/1 and submit their recommendations.
Regarding Merces, the court considered a Task Force May report relating to Survey Nos. 58/1 and 58/2, which recorded “massive land-filling” and extensive damage to the mangrove ecosystem.
The report estimated the restoration cost at Rs 1.69 crore. The bench observed that “prima facie, since respondents 22 and 23 (Yogesh Tigadi and spouse) are occupants of this land, they would be liable to compensate the state for the environmental damage caused, which is now quantified by the May 18 report.”
The respondents have been directed to file affidavits within two weeks detailing their plan to restore the land to its original condition and stating whether they will bear the quantified restoration costs.
The matter has been posted for further hearing on August 24.
