Team Herald
VASCO: The crucial environmental public hearing pertaining to proposed Consequential Terminal capacity enhancement by mordernisation at berth number 5A-6A of Mormugao Port Trust(MPT) was marred by chaotic scenes.
The participants raised their serious concerns over inadequate venue and demanded to hold the same at bigger venue so that more people who have been protesting against coal dust pollution in port town can participate in the public hearing.
Considering the sentiments of people, the presiding officer Johnson Fernandes who is also Additional Collector South Goa postponed the public hearing to a next date which would be announced in the newspapers.
The high voltage drama with chaotic scenes started soon after Johnson Fernandes asked the project proponent to start with their presentation. Before project proponent could start with the presentation, a citizen John Fernandes raised his objection with the claim that the venue (tourist hall) selected for public hearing is small and cannot accommodate enough participants. He informed the presiding officer that many participants are still outside the hall and cannot take part in the hearing and if the presiding officer continues with the hearing then the same would be unfair to the people.
Similar grievances were raised by other participants including political leaders from port town, environmental activists and large number of citizens from Mormugao Taluka. Participants also brought to the notice of presiding officer Johnson Fernandes that they had made written representation before the concerned authorities well before in advance seeking a change in the venue. However the representation remained unaddressed. They said that for such large number of participants, authorities should select “Tilak Maidan” as venue and the same should be held on public holidays as large number of people who have been affected with coal pollution in port town and want to take part in the hearing.
