TCP officials conducting inspection of the road leading to the alleged illegal construction at Oxel in Siolim on Tuesday.
MAPUSA
Officials from the Town and Country Planning (TCP) Department on Tuesday conducted an inspection of an alleged illegal construction and the road leading to it near the Oxel spring in Siolim.
The inspection was carried out following a directive from the High Court amid concerns raised by locals and environmentalists about potential ecological damage.
During the inspection, it was found that the width of the road leading to the construction site fell below the mandatory 6 metres in several stretches, said Avertino Miranda, Convenor of the Goa Green Brigade.
“This road width is non-compliant, and the construction threatens the spring’s catchment area, which is vital for its sustenance,” Miranda stated.
Residents of the area have voiced strong apprehensions that the ongoing construction could lead to the destruction of the spring.
The spring, they argue, lies within its catchment area, which feeds its aquifers.
A hydrologist appointed by the petitioners supported these claims, noting a decline in the spring’s water flow, which locals attribute to the construction activities.
However, a report from the Water Resources Department (WRD) contradicted this, stating that the construction poses no threat to the spring.
In light of the conflicting assessments, the High Court has directed the government to engage a central government hydrology body based in Belgaum to independently verify the findings of the two reports.
Miranda further criticised the project, alleging that the multi-dwelling development close to the Oxel spring would cause “irreversible environmental damage.”
He stated, “There is a sharp drop in the flow of spring water due to the construction, which is directly impacting the aquifers that feed the spring.”
He also accused the TCP Department of granting technical clearance to the project without proper due diligence.
“The clearance was given without an adequate understanding of the environmental implications,” he said.
