VASCO
Claiming that the MPT has also been handling capsized vessels, Goa Against Coal (GAC) has threatened to petition the central vigilance to investigate dredging activity in the River Zuari.
Addressing media persons on Friday, GAC member Avinash Tavares said the MPT’s calendar had revealed that the port had already handled capsized vessels at Berth 7 in 2015.
“Under the pretext of maintenance, MPT already carried out dredging to a draft of 19 metres and the present capital dredging was illegally carried out to further deepen the channel and the berths,” claimed Tavares.
“Whatever is mentioned in the EIA report about capital dredging is false and misleading the environment ministry, as MPT has already carried out the 19 metres draft dredging, due to which the NGT has stayed the further dredging process.”
“We are petitioning the central vigilance to investigate into the dredging of the river Zuari bay and demand that an independent survey be conducted about the present depth of the channel with the help of local fishermen and government officials,” added Tavares.
Olencio Simoes General Secretary of Raponkarancho Ekvott said the State government should de-notify the area which MPT claims as its own, adding that the Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar, during his earlier term, had assured Goans to de-notify the land under MPT’s possession.
Cyril Fernandes said the public hearing over MPT’s expansion plans had created history as various speakers had questioned the EIA report prepared by MPT.
Meanwhile, GAC Convenor Custodio D’Souza criticized former Panaji MLA Siddarth Kuncalienker for his pro-coal statements in the Assembly.
“If Kuncalienker feels that coal is integral part of electricity and people have been simply opposing, then he should stay in Vasco for two years and then he should speak about importance of coal in Goa,” D’Souza challenged Kuncalienker.
Others who addressed the media included Dinesh Dias, Judit Almeida, Edwin Mascarenhas and other local leaders from Vasco.
