VASCO: The Old Cross Fishing Canoe Owners Cooperative Society (OCFCOCS), Khariwado, on Tuesday slammed Mormugao Port Trust (MPT) for restarting dredging of navigational channel at Vasco Bay.
The fishermen alleged that MPT’s act was illegal as the National Green Tribunal, Pune Bench, had issued orders asking MPT to stop the dredging till the final judgment is passed. Instead of adhering to the court order, MPT went ahead with dredging and its vessel has been blocking the navigational channel used by the canoe owners.
“It is contempt of court as NGT is yet to announce its judgment on our plea challenging the dredging of the navigational channel by MPT. A hearing was held recently but the order is yet to come. We were shocked to find a dredging vessel owned by Dredging Corporation of India (DCI) at the spot, which has begun dredging operations before the court order is passed,” said OCFCOCS President Custodio D’Souza said.
Another OCFCOCS member, Gracious Coutinho, claimed that the fishing community had approached NGT against the dredging project as it was taken up allegedly without a public hearing and without environmental clearance. He said 60 percent of dredging work has been completed even as the judgment was awaited.
“Though we had raised objections to the dredging operations, MPT has turned a deaf ear to our pleas and has been adamant. If MPT continues with the dredging operations, all canoe owners from Khariwado, along with locals, would be forced to launch a protest. We appeal to the State government to intervene and stop MPT’s illegal dredging operations,” Coutinho said.
Reacting to the fishermen’s claims, MPT chairman I Jeyakumar said though the order on dredging is pending, in the environmental clearance it is clearly mentioned that MPT could start dredging after the fishing ban period ended on July 31. He claimed that technically MPT could start work on August 1, though the final hearing in the case has been held and the court has reserved the orders.
“We had asked DCI to start dredging and hence they mobilized machinery, however work is yet to start. Currently, there is no order to stop dredging and in the NGT also we have argued that the parameters, monitoring data were well within the limits and NGT’s monitoring committee has also given a favourable report. Dredging is not affecting anything. Instead, it will facilitate trade and would be cost effective which would generate revenue for MPT and for Goa,” he said.
