Reply to PIL in Merces land-grab case: HC to p’yat

Panaji: The high court has directed the Merces panchayat and the Goa state pollution control board to respond to a PIL regarding land-grabbing and environmental violations on Morombi-O-Grande comunidade land.Former chairperson of the biodiversity management committee of Merces, Kripa Pilarnekar, represented by advocate Rohan Desai, filed the PIL stating that there is illegal filling of low-lying, eco-sensitive comunidade land along with destruction of mangroves and operation of a commercial garbage dumping facility under the guise of an MRF shed.According to the petition, these activities caused irreversible environmental damage, obstruction of natural drainage systems, and discharge of wet waste into mangroves connected to the Mandovi river and Dr Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary, affecting wetlands of the comunidade of Morombi-O-Grande and comunidade of Chimbel, posing risks to public health and safety.For over a month, an intolerable odour has been emanating from the illegally operated garbage dumping site and MRF facility, particularly during night hours from 8pm till early morning