PANAJI: The Corporation of the City of Panaji has formally requested the Department of Urban Development to declare the St Inez nullah as a creek through a government notification.

It may be recalled that earlier this month, the technical committee of the CCP constituted for the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission, after making certain suggestions had passed the detailed project report for the St Inez nullah.

The CCP has attached minutes of the technical committee meeting to its formal communiqué addressed to the Department of Urban Development.

The particular nullah, under the JNNURM is expected to undergo beautification at the cost of Rs 17 crore. The work for the same would be commencing soon. The work has been delayed as the sub committee of the CCP for the JNNURM under the chairmanship of the city MLA, Mr Manohar Parrikar has not given a green signal for the same.

The environmentalists had expressed an opinion that giving the status of a creek to the St Inez nullah would bring the water body under the CRZ rules and in turn, help the CCP in its protection.

The CCP, observing rise in the number of illegal constructions on either sides of the nullah, had decided to carry out a complete survey of the area and for this purpose recommended reservation of a minimum of 5 mts distance on either sides of the nullah as recommended in the outline development plan for Panaji and Taleigao.

The members of the technical committee had observed the need for constructing few small bridges over the nullah. They had also recommended increase in the depth of the nullah by digging its bed, so as to help the sea water to come inside during the
high tide.