VASCO: National Green Tribunal’s Pune bench has directed the Mormugao Port Trust (MPT) to deposit Rs 50 crore as bank guarantee with the Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority (GCZMA) within a week or else the dredging operations for deepening of its navigational channel shall be stopped. The GCZMA has also been asked to file a compliance report.
A committee comprising of a GCZMA member Dr Antanio Mascarenhas with a marine biologist/water quality specialist from NIO Goa, deputy collector of the area and a senior officer of GSPCB has been formed to ascertain the impact of the dredging operations.
The committee members will visit the dredging area and also any other affected area immediately in next three days and at least once a fortnight subsequently and shall submit its report to registry of Tribunal directly from time to time. The committee shall be providing necessary logistic, infrastructure and other support by the MPT. The entire expenditure of committee including travel, honorarium, sampling, analysis and others shall be borne by the MPT.
NGT has also directed the North Goa Collector to start investigation on the complaints filed by appellants regarding the damage to house and other issues and submit a report within 15 days. “Ministry of Environment and Forest and the GCZMA shall also carry out independent compliance verification on fortnightly basis till the dredging operations continue,” stated the order.
Meanwhile, the Goenchea Ramponkarancho Ekvott and the Old Cross Fishing Canoe Owners Association have demanded immediate resignation of the Union Minister for Shipping, Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari and scientist Yogendra Singh for “fraudulently” giving environmental clearance to the MPT for dredging of the navigational channel.
Addressing pressmen in Vasco on Friday, traditional fishermen affiliated to Old Cross Fishing Canoe Owners Association under the banner of GRE opposed the dredging works. Its president Custodio D’Souza has demanded immediate resignation of CM Laxmikant Parsekar, Fisheries Minister Avertano Furtado and other local representatives.