PANJIM: The proposed ship-shaped terminal building of the Captain of Ports has hit rough weather as experts have questioned the legality of permissions availed by the department for the Rs 28 cr project.
Last month, Ports Minister Jayesh Salgaocar laid the foundation stone for new building.
Experts say the project flouts the Coastal Regulations Zone as it is right on the bank of the River Mandovi. “How can you have the construction right on the banks of River Mandovi? Forget 200 metres or 50 metres, this is not even 1 metre away from the high tide line (HTL),” says former Goa University Professor Dr Joe D’Souza.
D’Souza, who lives opposite to where the project is proposed, says this is a violation of CRZ. “At the most they can take the existing building and rebuild it but no way can they build another building there,” he said.
Further, D’Souza, pointed out that the project could have harmful effect on the marine ecology. “There is no EIA, no study done on how the project will/will not affect marine life. Besides, what about the waste generated there? Are they going to dump it in the river?” he asked.
Dr D’Souza also said that the area falls under the heritage zone. “How can such a project be allowed to come up there?” he asked.
Interestingly, GCZMA had deferred permission to the project on 02/07/2015 asking for comments from the Heritage Committee but shockingly granted the permission days later. Documents available with Herald reveal that the GCZMA meeting on 01/07/2015 had discussed the issue based on the site inspection done by Dr Antonio Mascarenhas, who was the expert member, then.
“The site inspection report indicates that the proposed plot is along the HTL of River Mandovi. There exists an old CoP building located on one side of the plot. The applicant is the Captain of Ports (CoP). The CoP intends constructing a terminal building/office complex in place of old steamer jetty shed. Some columns will be placed within the river. The building is about 70 m long and is parallel to existing jetty/river bank.
“In brief, the building will be built within the existing jetty complex. The CoP may decide if an EIA is needed. The CoP, for the sake of River Mandovi, may let the people know whether the multiple jetties have influenced riverine ecology and bank morphology, physiography and bathymetry. GCZMA needs to discuss this issue in detail,” the report states.
A day later on 02/07/2015, GCZMA writes to CoP saying the permission is deferred pending NOC from the Heritage Committee or competent authority. But surprisingly, on 20/07/2015 the GCZMA grants approval saying the decision was taken on 06/07/2015, barely four days after permission was deferred.
After ‘detailed discussions and due deliberations and on considering the report of the site inspection’, carried out by Expert Member of GCZMA, the authority decided to grant approval for the construction of terminal building at chalta no 2 of PTS NO 7 of Panjim, (CRZ-II area) subject to the condition that CoP shall obtain all the required permission as required under the law.
When Herald contacted expert member Dr Anonio Mascarenhas, who conducted inspection, he said he had submitted the report based on the plans then. “Now I am told they are reclaiming some area in the river, which was never permitted. Secondly, I had not given permission but it is GCZMA which had done so,” he said.
Captain of Ports James Braganza when contacted said that the issue has been there for long and all permissions have been taken. “We have all valid permissions, be it GCZMA, NGPDA, or any other agency. The building will come in the existing campus,” he said.
