The Goa State Expert Appraisal Committee (Goa-SEAC), an environmental advisory body to the state, has acceded to approve the proposed stadium project at Dhargalim. Reportedly, the upcoming plan will be completed under the authority of the Goa Cricket Association and about 850 trees will fall in the plateau region for this. As such, its green approval has been moved in line with a precondition that directs the GCA to develop an urban forest within the stadium complex.
Green steps to progress the stadium construction at Dhargalim
While the loss of trees will be compensated with the plantation of 2,500 trees, the Goa-SEAC has suggested the development of an urban forest within the complex itself. The Committee has further recommended the proposal to the Goa SEIAA for pre environmental clearance while listing down general conditions that the proponent has to follow:
An urban forest should be developed over at least 2,000 square meters of the total project land. As per the plan, the built-up area will stretch over 48,000 square meters of the total 1.89 lakh square meters. With this, the proposed stadium will have a capacity to hold around 32,000 people and include a 3,000-vehicle parking space. The suggestions also include the availability of charging points for e-vehicles inside the stadium.
Apart from this, the project proponent has to provide 600mm wide x 600mm deep land along the borders of the plot to carry out the plantation. Provisions will also be made to pump the treated water from the sewage plant through high flow drips to prevent the outflow outside the premises, added the SEAC.
The GCA has accepted the environmental body’s condition to produce an ecology and biodiversity report of the Dhargalim plateau region before launching the construction. This draft will include all information on the fauna diversity of the land under question, added reports.
Energy-efficient provisions to be installed at the stadium
As per the project development timeline, the stadium will be allowed to operate with the construction of a minimum of 5 years, for maintenance of its sewage treatment plants. According to the GCA, two such treatment units will be installed here in addition to solar panels to make the stadium energy efficient. A system of rooftop water harvesting has also been suggested here.
