The decision of Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority (GCZMA) to grant its consent to South West Port Ltd (SWPL) to increase its coal handling capacity as part of proposed Terminal Capacity Enhancement at Berth 5A-6A of Mormugao Port Trust (MPT) has come like a shocker to environmental activists and citizens from the port town, leaving them completely disappointed. They have demanded that the state government should immediately disband GCZMA and all the decisions taken under current GCZAM body should be thoroughly investigated.
“I am disappointed on hearing about GCZMA’s clearance to SWPL that has been given against the tide of public opinion and Government’s assurances within and outside the Legislature. I feel that the statutory body is not fulfilling its mandate to protect and preserve Goa’s coastal environment, and its members have some soul searching to do” said Vasco-based Environmental Activist Advocate Savio J F Correia.
Another environmental activist Abhijeet Prabhudesai said that “I believe that the state government is saying one thing but doing another or else GCZMA would have never dared to go against the decision of state government. We are very much shocked to read about the decision taken by GCZMA. All these highway projects, nationalisation of rivers, are coal related projects and the government is aware of it.”
Prabhudesai echoed the sentiments of many activists against coal when he demanded that the whole of GCZMA be disbanded and criminal action be taken against them because they are completely ignoring CRZ law for various matters. He also said that all the decisions taken under current GCZMA body should be thoroughly investigated.”
Edwin Mascarenhas, who is media cell in-charge of Goa Against Coal (NGO fighting against coal pollution in Vasco) said that “We are quite surprised because it was CM Parrikar who had given an assurance that the government would write to Ministry for Environment and Forest (MoEF) not to allow enhancement of coal handling capacity at MPT. “CM says one thing which is good for the state and GCZMA does just the opposite,” he said.
Goa Against Coal has called for a meeting to take a decision on its future course of action. GAC feels that this consent is against all environmental norms as the matter is pending before Expert Appraisal Committee (EAC) after the public hearing. “We fail to understand how GCZMA granted its consent when the matter is pending. Thus, we will be able to give more comment on the issue after we check the minutes of GCZMA’s meeting,” Mascarenhas said.
