Since Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB) has announced the date of public notice for environmental public hearing for the proposed development of fishing jetty, passenger jetty, multipurpose cargo berths and Petroleum, Oil and Lubricants (POL) berth by Mormugao Port Trust, the residents, social and environmental activists from Mormugao taluka and other parts of Goa have started gearing up to express their views.
Coincidentally, the venue this time too is same – Tilak Maidan where Goans last year had grilled the project proponent for eight days at the public hearing for MPT’s three expansion projects. Another coincidence is with regards to the date as the forthcoming public hearing will be held on April 25, 2018, while in same month last year i.e. April 26, 2017, the last public hearing was held. Which means that during this public hearing, Goans would also get an opportunity to celebrate the first anniversary of the historical public hearing held last year.
Meanwhile, speaking to Herald, some concerned residents of the port town claimed that they would surely support the modern fishing harbour for Khariwado fishermen community but at the present location. However, they would strongly oppose the POL berth citing safety issues.
“A bulk liquid cargo (POL) berth in the Vasco Bay will be the worst misfortune which could fall upon our town, which is already sitting on a time bomb. Having POL berth will also have huge safety issues as Vasco town is already overloaded with hazardous installations including chemical and oil tanks and this will be like literally adding fuel to the fire,” said Vasco-based environment activist Advocate Savio J F Correia, who has been shadowing MPT expansion plans.
“We are not opposed to fishing jetty. In fact I am in favour of having a modern fishing jetty at present location. By shifting the fishing jetty in middle of Vasco bay and by dividing the bay into two, whatever Khariwado beach we have, will be lost forever. If MPT has so much love for the fishermen then why not have a new modern fishing jetty at the present location. Though MPT is talking about the fishermen needs but in reality it intends to have the entire area from present fishing jetty till Vasco bay freed up for port expansion,” Correia alleged.
On behalf of traditional fishermen community, leader Olencio Simoes while questioning the state government for its silence on the issue said, “We are going to strongly object POL jetty at Vasco bay. In the name of fishing harbor, MPT is trying to fool the fishermen of Vasco. Why cannot MPT upgrade the present fishing jetty and what guarantee will MPT give that in future they citing the port need, will not shift even the proposed new jetty to some other place. This is just to fool the fishermen as this is POL cum coal berth jetty,” he claimed.
While social and environmental activists along with traditional fishermen community have decided to oppose POL berth at Vasco bay, the fishing trawler owners from Khariwado demanded that they want the new fishing jetty ‘no matter what comes’ in their way.
“As per the MoU signed in 1998 between Goa Fishing Boat Owners’ Association (GFBOA), MPT and Goa Govt, it was agreed that fishing jetty will be built opposite Kaveri in Khariwado. At that time there was no objection raised by anyone including public or traditional fishermen. Even there is no letter on record with MPT or Goa government having any objection to the fishing jetty at the site. It is almost two decades now, and the jetty is a long pending demand which is yet to be fulfilled,” said Simon Pereira, GFBOA Secretary.
“We are around 200 trawlers and the jetty is insufficient. I am not bothered about what people have been objecting to the other project. I am only worried if they are objecting to fishing jetty. My primary concern is that the fishing jetty should happen, ‘no matter what comes’ and we will go to the court if it doesn’t happen as agreed in the MoU,” Pereira warned.
