Govt postpones GSPCB environmental public hearing

PANJIM, JULY 1
The government has postponed the Environmental Public Hearing by the Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB) in view of the proposed widening of NH-17 until the exact details of the project are made available.
A letter dispatched to the GSPCB the Minister for Environment Aleixo Sequeira states that he had received numerous representations, from the affected public which indicate that complete and clear information regarding the proposed widening were not provided to the revenue authorities and village panchayats.
“This has apparently caused fear and anxiety in the minds of the affected people and there is total confusion on the entire project proposal due to lack of clarity in the information,” the minister said in the letter.
“After discussion with the Chief Minister, I am directed to inform you that the proposed Environmental Public Hearing should be postponed until the following details are clearly made available to authorities, MPs, MLA’s, NGO’s, Public, etc affected by the project,” he said.
Sequeira said that the details should include the exact width of the proposed highway including highway and service roads, village-wise structures to be demolished or acquired along with survey numbers be clearly depicted on the alignment plan.
Citing a High Court of Delhi order, Sequeira said that the court had observed that public hearings relating to environmental clearances should not be conducted without providing detail and complete information to the public well in advance before a public hearing is held.