Construction of road should not result in destruction of biodiversity: NGT

‘There can be no doubt that water bodies, wetlands, mangroves and other natural resources need to be protected’

Construction of a road may be a necessity but it should should not result in destruction of the biodiversity, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) said on Wednesday while forming a committee to monitor compliance of environmental norms during construction of a stretch of Margao National Highway Western Bypass in Goa. A bench headed by NGT Chairperson Justice Adarsh Kumar Goel said the construction of the road in question should be consistent with the principle of sustainable development i.e adopting safeguards for protection of wetlands, water bodies and other environmental resources. “There can be no doubt that water bodies, wetlands, mangroves and other natural resources need to be protected. While construction of a road may be a necessity, such construction should not result in destruction of bio-diversity and other environmental resources, including water bodies and wetlands. Flood plains of river Sal also need to be protected. The studies referred to in the application support the need for such protection,” the bench said.