SURAJ NANDREKAR
suraj@herald-goa.com
The Expert Appraisal Committee on Infrastructure of Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has cleared a proposal for grant of Environmental and CRZ Clearance to the project “Redevelopment of Berths 8, 9 and Barge Berth” at the Port of Mormugao.
The proposed facility, at a cost of Rs 1145.36 crore, envisages handling a variety of cargo including iron ore, bauxite, limestone, gypsum, steel products, granite, wood chips, coal, containers etc.
“Coal will be handled in totally covered conditions including covered storage and conveying system,” Mormugao Port Trust (MPT) had said in the tender notice.
The proposal was cleared in the 48th meeting of the committee held on January 28, in Mumbai.
The committee observed that the project is recommended by Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority (GCZMA) on January 1, 2019 for which the public hearing was conducted on April 4, 2017, May 4 and 5, 2017.
The committee said that the proposal was earlier considered by the EAC (Infra-2) in its 42nd Meeting of Expert Appraisal Committee (Infra-2) held during July 10-12, 2019, wherein, the EAC asked the project proponent to submit additional information, which were complied by MPT.
The committee also took into consideration that the as per directives of Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB), MPT has appointed IIT Mumbai to carry out source apportionment study.
“IIT Mumbai has submitted preliminary report in February 2019, phase one report in September 2019 and raw data report in December 2019. IIT Mumbai has requested GSPCB for the extension of time for submission of Final Report and the same is consented by GSPCB,” the minutes of the meeting read.
It further says that based on the information submitted, examination of the submitted documents, clarifications provided by the project proponent during appraisal of the project and after detailed deliberations on all the issues recommends the project for grant of environment clearance along with additional conditions over and above the Standard EC conditions stipulated by the Ministry for this category of project while considering the grant of Environmental and CRZ Clearance.”
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CONDITIONS BY MoEF&CC
* Effective and efficient pollution control measures like covered conveyors/stacks (coal, iron ore and other bulk cargo) with fogging/back filters and water sprinkling commencing from ship unloading to stacking to evacuation shall be undertaken.
* Coal and iron ore stack yards shall be bounded by thick two tier green belt with proper drains and wind barriers wherever necessary.
* Sediment concentration should be monitored fortnightly at source and disposal location of dredging while dredging.
* Construction strictly according to the provisions of the CRZ Notification, 2011. No construction work other than those permitted in CRZ Notification shall be carried out in CRZ area.
* All the recommendations and conditions specified by GCZMA to be complied with.
* Consent to Establish/Operate for the project shall be obtained from the GSPCB under Air and Water Act.
* The project proponent shall comply with the air pollution mitigation measures as submitted.
* No creeks or rivers can be blocked due to any activities and free flow of water is maintained.
* No dredging during the fish breeding season. Dredging, should be in confined manner to reduce the impacts on marine environment including turbidity. Dredged material shall be disposed safely
* No underwater blasting is permitted.
* Shoreline must not be disturbed due to dumping.
* Periodical study on shore line changes shall be conducted and mitigation carried out.
* Appointment of independent monitor for dredging, to check the impact and necessary measures shall be taken on priority basis.
* The recommendations IIT, Bombay should be implemented and a copy of the report should be submitted to MoEF&CC.
* The total fresh water requirement during construction shall be taken from Public Works Department (PWD), Goa.
* The sewage generated during operation phase shall be treated in the existing Sewage Treatment Plants of MPT. Treated water shall be used for green belt development.
* Marine ecological studies and its mitigation measures for protection of phytoplankton, zooplanktons, macrobenthos, Crabs, Catfishes, Prawns, Silver bellies and Flat fishes etc. prepared by CSIR-National Institute of Oceanography (NIO) as given in the EIA-EMP Report shall be complied with in letter and spirit.
* A copy of the Marine and riparian biodiversity management plan duly validated by the State Biodiversity Board shall be obtained and implement in letter and spirit.
* Continuous online monitoring of for air and water covering the total area shall be carried out and the compliance report of the same shall be submitted along with the six monthly compliance report to the regional office of MoEF&CC.
* Marine ecology shall be monitored regularly also in terms of sea weeds, sea grasses, mudflats, sand dunes, fisheries, echinoderms, shrimps, turtles, corals, coastal vegetation, mangroves and other marine biodiversity components as part of the management plan. Marine ecology shall be monitored regularly also in terms of all micro, macro and mega floral and faunal components of marine biodiversity.
* During rock blasting, monitoring should be carried out for the health of fish also.
* Arrangements for the treatment of the effluents and solid wastes/facilitation of reception facilities under MARPOL must be made and it must be ensured that they conform to the standards laid down by the competent authorities including the CSPCB and under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986. The provisions of Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016. E-Waste Management Rules, 2016, and Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016 shall be complied with.
* Measures should be taken to contain, control and recover the accidental spills of fuel and cargo handle.
* Necessary arrangement for general safety and occupational health of people should be done in letter and spirit.
* All the mitigation measures submitted in the EIA report shall be prepared in a matrix format and the compliance for each mitigation plan shall be submitted to the RO, MoEF&CC along with half yearly compliance report.
* As per the Ministry’s Office Memorandum, project proponent has proposed an amount of Rs 2.87 crore (0.25 per cent of the project cost) under Corporate Environment Responsibility (CER) Plan for the activities such as paved shoulder for roads in Mormugao municipal area to reduce dust emission, construction of drains including RCC precast covers over drain wherever required in Mormugao municipal area, electrification of public roads using solar power panels, plantation of saplings in Mormugao municipal area with three years maintenance through Social Forestry Division. State Forest Department, distribution of saplings to primary secondary school and higher secondary children along with development of nursery of plants, women upliftment and distribution of grant for sanitation facilities for self-help groups in Mormugao municipal area, health, education and importance of hygiene among girls child at primary, secondary school and higher secondary school of Mormugao municipal area, skill development among higher secondary school of Mormugao municipal area and construction of toilet block facilities for public in Mormugao municipal area. The activities proposed under CER shall be restricted to the affected area around the project. The entire activities proposed under the CER shall be treated as project and shall be monitored.
* The monitoring report shall be submitted to the regional office as a part of half yearly compliance report, and to the District Collector. It should be posted on the website of the project proponent.
