ascokars aren’t happy about the recent clearances given by the Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change (MoEFCC) to the coal handling facility project. Members from the civil society are of the firm opinion that the redevelopment of berth 8, 9 and barge berth will likely increase the coal handling capacity and operations. Many of these are from Vasco itself and along with those who had articulated their opposition to this during the public hearing in 2017, believe that coal handling will have an effect on adverse effect on natural resources like air, water, and marine life as well as the health issues of the residents.
Although MoEFCC has put around 27 conditions, which are to be followed strictly during coal handling operations, those opposing this move suspect that the conditions levied on the project proponent won’t be followed religiously and that their voices and opinions have been systematically sidelined.
Interestingly, MPT officials as well as the elected representatives have chosen to keep mum on this development.
Mormugao constituency MLA and Urban Development Minister Milind Naik said that he has not gone through the clearances, conditions imposed by the MoEFCC and other technicalities of the project. He added that he would be able to comment and discuss the topic only after going through the documents. However repeated attempts to speak to Mormugao Port Trust Chairman Dr E Ramesh Kumar were in vain.
Below are the reactions of some prominent persons who were at the forefront of the movement against coal:
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Peter Cyril Andrade,
Vasco local
“It is disheartening to note that permissions have been granted by the Central government. This is not about opposing the development of the berth but about Coal cargo. Hundreds of people attended the public hearings and put forth their views with proof about the damage to the environment that has already been caused by coal. They had expressed concerns of a hidden agenda aimed at expanding coal handling capacity in the guise of the redevelopment of the berth, which was earlier handling iron ore,” said Vasco local resident Peter Cyril Andrade.
He further mentioned that the people have proved that capital dredging had already been carried before the environmental hearing and had damaged the Kharewado beach and other parts of the coast. “People had explained how the dredging benefits coal-laden ships. The fishermen had stated that the excavated soil has been dumped at a place in the sea, which has caused sudden waves in that area and has damaged the bottom of the sea. Even then the experts in Delhi have allowed capital dredging into the sea” he added.
Andrade also referred to the conditions imposed in Delhi. “In Goa, the GSPCB has imposed various conditions for handling coal and these are followed only when there is a public outcry. Sitting in Saligao, the GSPCB cannot implement its own conditions and we expect MPT’s tenants to follow conditions imposed from Delhi. For other ports in India, Coal is a dirty cargo while for MPT it is a general cargo and there is nothing called dirty cargo. While some ports are built away from populated areas only to handle coal, MPT has gone an extra mile to convert itself totally into a coal handling port,” he said.
Andrade added that the elected representatives are in constant denial of coal dust pollution. For IIT Mumbai, the air is polluted by smoke from fires lit for heating water for bathing. An increase in pollution is linked to the number of Vasco residents suffering from breathing disorders and their health problems have been confirmed by GMC. It seems that locals will rise united and protest only after the battle to save the environment is totally lost,” said Andrade.
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Sherwyn Correia,
law student activist
A petitioner in the PIL on coal pollution, which is pending the High Court, Sherwyn Correia was the youngest speaker at the Environmental Public Hearings held at Tilak Maidan, Vasco in 2017.
He said, “I am dismayed at the recommendations of the MoEFCC’s EAC to grant Environmental Clearance to the two MPT projects. Both have a direct nexus with increasing coal handling capacity, and part of the Sagarmala project that envisages converting Mormugao Port into a coal hub and Goa into a coal transportation corridor. The assurances given by our State leaders including late Manohar Parrikar have proved to be hollow. It only confirms that our State leaders have no influence over the Central leadership even though they belong to the same political party.
Correia further cited an example of the recent Mhadei dispute and said that, “We have already seen it in the case of resumption of mining and the Mhadei dispute. Corporate interests have prevailed over public good. Goa is doomed if these projects see the daylight. Coming to the specifics of the EAC’s recommendation, I feel that the issues raised at the public hearing in April/May 2017 were not considered and addressed. The overwhelming public objections to the projects have been ignored. There are glaring contradictions in the recommendations made in these two projects and the earlier approval given to South West Port Ltd. The EC cannot be granted unless the CZMP of Goa is finalized. Pending litigations with respect to capital dredging have not been taken into account. Vasco Bay beach has witnessed severe erosion attributable to rampant dredging and reclamation by MPT in the last couple of decades. Capital dredging will only worsen the situation besides causing unimaginable damage to the marine ecology. Our traditional fishermen will be displaced. We will challenge the EC’s in Court as and when they are granted” he added.
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Sanjay Redkar,
Vasco citizen
A resident of Vasco and someone who has been opposed to the coal handling proposals at MPT, Sanjay Redkar, pointed out that idividuals and organisations from different sectors had made a minutely detailed scientific representation on these projects which are detrimental to the environment, public health, ecosystem and livelihoods of the fishing community.
“By giving clearance to the projects, MoEFCC has turned a blind eye on these concerns and objections raised during the record breaking public hearing of 7 days in 2017. This proves that the common people have no say in today’s governance and the rich business corporates are taking the call by manipulating and controlling the statutory bodies” he opined.
Redkar further added, “It’s indeed a shame that the Environmental Clearance has been given on some mere assurances by the project proponent that will be implemented in true spirit. The common persons who were present at the public hearing must have lost faith in the MoEFCC as there were 100% objections raised by the public and not a single person was in favour of the projects. Redkar then concluded that it is surprising that even after such opposition by the public, the project proponents were given the Environmental clearance even though they were unable to provide any satisfactory answers during the 2017 public hearings.
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Captain Viriato Fernandes,
Goencho Awaaz
The convenor of Goencho Avaaz, Captain Viriato Fernandes, opined that the EC clearance by MOEF&CC is an insult to Goans and said it is a clear message that the BJP government at the centre is a government of the people, by the people, but for the corporate world. “The systematic and exhaustive research work by various organisations and individuals that was put up during the Public hearing in 2017 at Tilak Maidan has been ignored by the destructive government controlled by the coal lobby. It sounds a death knell of Mormugao and Goa as a whole.
Fernandes further mentioned that the conspiracy theory ,that the alert and vigilant Goans had put up ,stating that that the entire exercise of dredging is going to destroy our rivers, the marine biodiversity, the various fish species and most importantly the livelihood of our fishermen; is on the verge of coming true. “Who will benefit, but the corporate lobby who are out to make personal profits at the cost of our people and our beautiful paradise” he said.
Further, Fernandes opined that the environmental Clearance for capital dredging that has been granted is part of the host of other decisions such as nationalisation of six rivers, double tracking of South Central railways and construction of unwanted/avoidable highways; which are aimed at facilitating the transportation of coal that will be brought into Goa.
“The already eroded beach will completely disappear and the houses of fishermen along the stretch at Kharewado will soon cave in” Fernandes concluded.
