Confusion prevailed at the public hearing at Vasco on Wednesday over the proposed plans to increase the terminal capacity of Berth 5A and 6A at Mormugao Port Trust (MPT).
VASCO:
The proceedings came to a brief halt after two-and-half hours when Terrance George of Bambolim questioned why the Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB) did not circulate the draft EIA report of the proposed project in local languages (Konkani/Marathi) to all the villages within the 10-km radius of the project. George stated that GSPCB has violated the EIA norms of EIA notification by not circulating the report in local languages and to the villages within the radius of 10-km of the project.
George, who is working as a field researcher at EIA Research Center at Delhi, said as the GSPCB has failed to circulate the EIA in local languages and to all the villages within the radius of 10 km of the project, the hearing should be cancelled and fresh hearing should be conducted.
However, presiding officer, additional collector Johnson Fernandes and the officials said the summary of the EIA report was published in electronic and print media.
George brought to the notice of Fernandes that the EIA summary report is of about 20 pages but the report is 300-400 pages and it should be in local languages and circulated among all the villages as people of the affected villages should know the exact plan of expansion of the berths.
Later, Fernandes said he is over ruling the objections placed by George and continuing the hearing. “The public hearing by JSW is well planned and I am over ruling your objection as I cannot cancel the hearing. However, your objections will be recorded,” said Fernandes.
Sticking to his objections, George said the public hearing without circulating the EIA draft report to all the villages within the 10 km radius is in violation of EIA 2006 notification as the affected villagers have the right to hear their objections also.
Putting forth his objection, Fr Eremito Rebello said they continue the proceeding under protest and sought to know why the government was in such a hurry to facilitate “one man at the cost of the Goans who are suffering due to coal dust pollution”.
“Goa is a tourism state and this expansion will lead to destruction of beauty of Goa, no tourist will ever like to visit the State,” said Fr Rebello.
Villagers from Agassaim, Siridao and other areas also demanded that the EIA draft report should be circulated at the panchayats so that the villagers come prepared for the hearing.
Earlier in the day, the people stopped the presentation presented by the JSW officials as the LCDs were not working and directed the officials to give the presentation from the beginning.
