Bambolim project: Switch to commercial use put on hold

Panaji: Though the Goa State Expert Appraisal Committee (Goa-SEAC) had recommended the conversion of the controversial project at Bambolim from residential to commercial use, the Goa State Environmental Impact Assessment Authority (Goa-SEIAA) has decided to reconsider the nod. The Goa-SEAC had recommended that the Goa-SEIAA grant environmental clearance to the project. But Bambolim locals and environmental activists have been telling multiple authorities that the project’s deep excavations may damage water aquifers.
Besides, massive hill cutting has been carried out for the project, which covers an area spanning nearly 20 survey numbers.
“After scrutinising the documents submitted by the project proponent and upon reviewing the presentation, the authority decided to defer the matter for further discussion,” the Goa-SEIAA said at its recent meeting.
Recently, the water resources department and the town and country planning department had carried out an inspection, following multiple complaints of illegalities, and found violations.
In Nov last year, the Goa-SEAC had itself observed during a second site inspection that “even after specific instructions given by this committee, the project proponent had still continued the construction work on the site…and there appears to be a rupture of the aquifers”. The project proponent had been thereafter called for hearings.
Substantial hill cutting was also observed during one of the site inspections. However, the Goa-SEAC allowed the conversion into a commercial project.
“After scrutinising the documents submitted by the project proponent, and after conducting the site inspection by the committee members, the committee decided to recommend the authority for the grant of amendment in the environmental clearance for conversion of residential project to commercial use (a hotel) under the general conditions to be complied,” the Goa-SEAC had said at its Feb meeting.
The Goa-SEIAA has, however, decided to discuss the matter further before the amendment to the environmental clearance is granted.