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HC takes up Galgibaga turtles' cause

Times News Network
May 13, 2010
The high court of Bombay at Goa has suo motu taken up TOI's April 23 report ‘Crawling bypass threatens turtle haven' as a PIL after taking cognizance of a letter written by a lawyer refering to the report.

The letter had sought to know whether an environment impact assessment had been carried out in terms of the proposed highway's impact on turtle breeding grounds at Galgibaga.

During the hearing the government brought to the court's notice that Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority (GCZMA) had addressed a letter to the PWD on April 26, 2010 stating that the area would be classified CRZ-I and directed them to stop further construction of the road and to restore the area to the original condition by removing the earth filling.

The GCZMA letter states that no approval was granted to construct the road. The construction of the road is in violation of CRZ notification, 1991 and an offence under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, the letter points out and further states that "the area is eco-sensitive and in so far as it affect the turtles, while nesting, it would attract the provisions wildlife (protection) Act, 1972."

Appreciating the swift action taken by the government in the matter, a division bench comprising Justices S J Vazifdar and U D Salvi directed PWD to comply with the GCZMA directions. The court has requested advocate Norma Alvares to appear as amicus curiae in the matter and posted the next hearing to June 21.

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