Team Herald
MARGAO: The decision of the Union Ministry of Environment to grant an Environmental Clearance (EC) for the enhancement of the terminal capacity of Mormugao Port Authority’s (MPA) berth 5A and 6A for handling coal, has been heavily criticised by NGOs, activists and local residents.
They pointed out that not only did the MPA and State government give assurances that the coal handling capacity at the Port would not be increased; there was also a public hearing where hundreds of people had voiced their objections to this proposal.
“With the granting of the EC for enhancement of terminal capacity at berths 5A & 6A at MPA primarily for handling coal and coal based products in favour of Jindal, the Union environment ministry has signed the death warrant of not only the port town of Vasco, Mormugao, Dabolim and Cortalim. But, there are also areas opposite the bay at Caranzalem, Dona Paula and beyond which will definitely be affected by the coal pollution”, says Orville Dourado Rodrigues, Founder of Goencho Ekvott
“This, despite the Public Hearing held in 2017 which stretched for 8 days where speaker after speaker voiced their opinion and opposition to this project. Goa’s lungs are being systematically punctured and only divine intervention can save this most beautiful place on Earth from doomsday,” added ORodrigues, Founder
The enhanced capacity of coal handling is bound to enhance coal dust pollution in Vasco. It is clear that the voice of the people has no place in environmental decision making. The proposal had been unanimously and vehemently opposed at the eight-day long environmental public hearings in April May 2017,” said Sherwyn Correia, from Vasco, the young anti-coal hub crusader who had spoken at the public hearing.
“The so-called public consultation exercise was a sham. Even the fervent pleas by our ex-Chief Minister (late) Manohar Parrikar to the Central Government fell on deaf ears. The assurances given on the floor of the Assembly have turned out to be meaningless. I feel this should serve as a warning bell to Goans with regard to the Government’s tall promises on the Mhadei water diversion. We will explore all options available in law,” Correia said.
“It’s deeply disappointing to read this news, as on one hand the Government of Goa has taken the very commendable and necessary step of instituting two marine ranges for North & South managed by the state forest dept to protect marine wildlife. However, on the other hand, to also move forward with such projects is counterproductive,” said Puja Mitra, an environmental activist who had also spoken at the public hearing.
Goa has multiple Schedule-I marine species protected under the Wildlife Protection Act of India, 1972 – Coral Reefs, Mangroves, Indian Ocean Humpback Dolphin, Finless Porpoise, Indian Mugger, which are residential and endangered needing urgent conservation action.
Approximately 700 strandings of marine animals (whales, dolphins, porpoises, sea turtles, sea birds) have been documented in the past five years across Goa’s coastline by the state-wide stranding network established under the Goa Forest Department.
“Recent news reports of tourists harassing Olive Ridley sea turtles and not allowing them to nest, shows that there is an urgent need for public awareness and community as well as state led conservation action. How many stressors can these animals adapt to? How long before coal pollution, overfishing, unplanned and aggressive concretization, garbage, irresponsible tourism etc all finally become too much and we lose these very species and habitats we depend on and are committed to protect?”Mitra said.
“The EC granted to MPA is for those two berths that are exclusively for coal expansion. In 2017, there was an 8-day-long public hearing and at that time, there were so many experts, environmentalists, scientists, doctors who spoke against this. I had also spoken about how the ecology, fisheries, rivers and health will get finished and we have asked questions from the authorities but neither could the MPA or Pollution Control Board answer this. So on what basis the Union Environment Ministry granted them an EC after almost six years?” she asked.
“For years we have been talking about how this port and the railways are being used for coal transportation between other States. The government was in denial all this time but now it is clear that the coal from Australia will go to Karnataka via road, river and double tracking. Vasco people are still struggling from coal pollution but now all those living near the railway line, four-lane road and rivers will get affected. This is the sinister plan of the BJP government,” Olencio Simoes, General Secretary of Goenchea Ramponkarancho Ekvott, who spoke at the public hearing.
“The enhancement of berths at MPA exposes the ease with which the government doles out assurances that it has no intention of fulfilling. The sinister plans of the powers that be are now unfolding. The pieces of the puzzle are falling into place. As we had tried to warn Goans in the past, the Sagarmala Report is now being implemented,” said Swapnesh Sherlekar, President of Goencho Swabhiman Party.
Incidentally, the Sagarmala Report also mentions setting up of steel and power plants in the border regions of Karnataka and Maharashtra, which is probably the real unsaid reason why Mhadei is being diverted to Karnataka to fulfil the water requirements that will ensue, he said.
“Last but not least, as expected, the objections raised by the public at the public hearing have been summarily rejected. In my opinion, the future looks exceedingly bleak and the people of Goa have good reason to be very, very afraid of what is to come,” Sherlekar said.
