HERALD GIVES YOU A DAY-WISE BREAK UP OF THE HEARINGS
1Armed with inputs and information, citizens and environmental activists from Mormugao Taluka and other parts of South Goa along with politicians registered strong opposition against MPT’s coal berth expansion. They ripped apart the authorities for a “flawed” EIA and vented their ire as the authorities had not done their job properly. Even GSPCB was not spared as several villages were not informed about the hearing.
Prominent speakers: RTI activist Avinash Tavares, social activist Colva Judith, citizen Siddarth Karapurpar, environment activist advocate Savio J F Correia, Environment activist Terence Jorge
2It was GSPCB turn to face the wrath. The pollution board officials were slammed for giving misleading information to the citizens. MPT was pulled up as though it was part of the hearing, no official from MPT was present at the hearing. It was also highlighted that if the coal was meant for Karnataka, then why Goa was being used to park the consignment. The second day also saw heated presentations on the imminent danger to the marine life due the dredging schemes.
Prominent speakers: Advocate Aires Rodrigues, RTI activist Avinash Tavares, Dr Jorson Fernandes, Convenor for Goa for Goans Kennedy Alfanso, Congress leader Sankalp Amonkar, Caitan Fernandes, Filip De Souza, Bernard Marcus, Rosario Rodrigues, Cyril Fernandes, Savio J F Correia.
3The redevelopment of berth numbers 8, 9 and barge berth at Mormugao Port Trust (MPT) were on the agenda. Clarifications were sought from the MPT as to why they submitted mismatched information in the in draft EIA and in form-1 for proposed project of redevelopment of berth numbers 8, 9 and barge berth at MPT.
Prominent speakers: Citizen Dinesh Dias, Savio Correia
4MPT stepped on a livewire when it raised objection over the OUTSIDER ISSUE. MPT had objected to speakers who did not live in Vasco and yet raised objections to their proposals. This led to a chaotic situation and marred the fourth day public hearing. Citizens condemned MPT for its statement and even demanded a written apology from MPT Chairman I Jeyakumar
5GSPCB was at the receiving end again for not taking any measures in controlling coal pollution. The speakers demanded that until coal pollution was brought under control, there was no need of getting more coal to the port town
Prominent speakers: Vasco MLA Carlos Almeida, Former Parish Priest of St Andews Church Fr Antonio Costa, Vasco-based businessman Bharat Kamat, Fishermen leader, Olencio Simoes
6 MPT was literally fleeced for presenting incomplete and contradictory draft EIA report prepared without proper study. Also there were concerns over the decline in the fish catch due to maintenance dredging. Speakers also were wary over the future of the dwellings located along Khariwado and Baina coast besides other coasts in Goa would naturally collapse due to erosion.
Prominent speakers: Fishermen Jacinto D’ Souza, social activists John Fernandes, Avinash Tavares.
7High decibel beginning. Speakers were furious when MPT said that they would reply to selected queries and the rest would be given in writing. The issue of incomplete and flawed information again came up during the hearing.
Prominent speakers: Fishermen leader Olencio Simoes, Rupesh Shinkre, a computer engineer, Edwin Mascarenhas
8Class 11 student Sherwyn Savio Correia stole the limelight. The youth stood TALL among the rest of the speakers when he critically bisected the hazardous impact of coal pollution in port city of Vasco and appealed to the authorities not to give any expansion permission to MPT. It was also pointed out that Adani has special port at Belekeri for ore, and further sought to know as to why they are not using this port for coal
Prominent speaker: Sherwyn Savio Correia, Abhijeet Prabhudesai, Former MMC Chairperson Madeline Pereira, RTI activist Avinash Tavares, Cortalim MLA Alina Saldanha.
OUTCOME OF THE PUBLIC HEARING: MPT must provide satisfactory answers to begin work on the proposed projects, says MMC.
Photos by: Prasad Naik
