VASCO: Following representation by a concerned citizen from Vasco, requesting re-schedule of the dates and venue of the environmental public hearings on three major Mormugao Port expansion projects, the South Goa Collector Swapnil Naik on Tuesday deferred all the three public hearing.
According to sources, Vasco based environment activist Advocate Savio J F Correia had petitioned the Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB) requesting the board to defer public hearings for three major Mormugao Port expansion projects including proposed terminal capacity enhancement at berth 5A and 6A of MPT (hearing was slated on February 17), deepening of approach channel and inner basin for capsize vessels (hearing was slated on February 21) and redevelopment of berth number 8, 9 and barge berth at MPT (hearing was slated on February 23), citing several reasons.
Adv Corriea in his petition had said that inconvenient dates and venue may have been deliberately fixed to ensure minimal public participation and had further demanded that the hearing should be re-scheduled at convenient dates and at convenient location but not within the premises owned by Project proponent as the same would defeat its very purpose and intend.
Following the petition, GSPCB officials wrote to the collector opposing the petition of Adv Corriea, but leaving the decision to the collector.
Thus, after taking note of points mentioned by Adv Correia as well as GSPCB’s reply, the collector has deferred all three public hearing, and the news dates would be announced shortly.
