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
