PANJIM: National Green Tribunal (NGT) has pulled up the Union Ministry for Environment and Forests (MoEF) for gross irregularities in granting Environmental Clearance (EC) to Mormugao Port Trust (MPT) for capital dredging of the navigational channel at its cruise berth.
Directing MPT to deposit Rs 50 crore with Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority (GCZMA) within a week, failing which the dredging operation shall be stopped, NGT has constituted an expert committee to ascertain the environmental status and impacts due to the dredging. The committee, headed by GCZMA member and marine biologist from NIO
Dr Antonio Mascarenhas, has the Deputy Collector and senior official of the Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB) as members.
“This is a typical scenario where prima facie gross irregularity in grant of EC can be seen along with lack of regulatory control during conducting the dredging operations,” the order issued on May 4 by Dr Justice Jawad Rahim and Dr Ajay Deshpande states.
NGT observed that while the EC for the project was granted on February 9, the project was commissioned on January 1, violating the Environment Protection Act and regulations.
“But at the same time the subject dredging operations are necessary for the overall development. It is an important infrastructural project, significant public money has already been spent on the project as more than 46 per cent work has already been completed,” the order stated, refusing to grant a stay on the dredging as sought by Old Cross Fishing Canoe Owners Co-op Society Ltd and Baina Ramponkar & Fishing Canoe Owners Society.
The petitioners had claimed that the project will have an adverse impact including effect on water quality, on habitats of local aquatic life besides destruction of their livelihood activity – fishing. They had also challenged the manner in which the EC was granted without public consultation.
Further, NGT has directed the North Goa district collector to investigate complaints filed by the petitioners regarding damage to the houses and other issues and submit a report to the tribunal within 15 days. Also, MoEF and GCZMA have been asked to carry out independent compliance verification on a fortnightly basis till the dredging operations continue.
The project to deepen the existing navigation channel in Vasco Bay, launched by Union Minister Nitin Gadkari in January, is to allow larger ships into the port by capital dredging over a large area with width of about 250 metres and length of about 10 kms.
