VASCO: The hearing on the joint Public interest litigation (PIL) before the High Court of Bombay at Goa by the fishermen group from Khariwado and Baina seeking stay on the maintenance dredging undertaken by the Mormugao Port Trust (MPT) was held on Wednesday and HC has now passed an order allowing MPT to take up maintenance dredging strictly under monitoring of Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority (GCZMA)’s sub- committee.
According to the information, the first question the judge posed to GCZMA’s counsel was how improper maintenance dredging amounted to damage to environment. The HC then instructed that maintenance dredging should be regulated in such a manner so that there is no damage to the environment.
During the hearing, petitioner’s counsel raised the grievance before the HC that the maintenance dredging by MPT is not being done by taking the sub-committee into confidence. It was also informed that the sub-committee had conducted site inspection and had given a report and conclusion, along with certain recommendations after they came to know about the commencement of maintenance dredging by MPT. The report prepared by GCZMA sub-committee was also submitted before the court.
After hearing both the parties, HC kept the matter alive and fixed the next hearing on November 7, 2017 so that it is ensured that the maintenance dredging was done in compliance with proper procedure and without any environmental damage.
As per the HC order the sub-committee will now continue their work of supervising the maintenance dredging operations and once the dredging works is completed, the hydrographer would measure the works to find out whether MPT has exceeded the required depth of 14.4 meters depth or has maintained the depth as per NGT order.
Meanwhile, MPT officials claimed that as per the earlier directions issued by the NGT and now by the HC, MPT had already informed the sub-committee about the maintenance dredging works prior to the commencement of the works.
“As per the NGT order we were asked to inform the GCZMA’s sub-committee which we have already done before starting up the works. As per the HC directions we have been asked to submit periodic report and we would do the needful as directed along with the proof supported with documents once the works would complete,” a senior MPT official said.
