VASCO: The decision of Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB) to cancel the public hearing for the proposed ‘Modernization and expansion of Port infrastructure’ for fishing, coastal and multipurpose cargo berth and liquid/general cargo’ at Mormugao Port Trust (MPT) would further delay in the execution of important projects including fishing jetty and passenger jetty at the Vasco bay, claimed MPT officials.
“The cancellation of the public hearing and postponing the public hearing beyond May 11, may result in non-conducting of the public hearing in May 2018 and it may spill over beyond the monsoon period as the Tilak Maidan, the venue of the public hearing, may not be suitable during monsoons resulting in delay in the execution of important projects for the State, that is, the fishing jetty and passenger jetty at the Vasco bay,” said a senior MPT official.
“Therefore, the MPT has written to the South Goa Collector to conduct the public hearing by the second or third week of May, to avoid pre-monsoon inconveniencies and further delay in the project,” he added.
Further, the MPT has also clarified that it had submitted all the requisite details/documents (20 copies of EIA, Form I, TOR and summary of EIA)) along with the requisite fees of Rs 15 lakh in the form of DD with a request to conduct the public hearing to GSPCB in December, 2017. In response to MPT’s request the GSPCB on February 22, 2018 requested the collector (South Goa) to finalise the date for public hearing, who fixed it on April 25. MPT said that later during the meeting with the collector it was decided to postpone the hearing to May 11.
