CORTALIM
In a press note, Simoes said he would like to remind Gadkari that he and his government had granted Environmental Clearance on pretext that the dredging was maintenance dredging.
“But in reality, it was capital dredging in the existing navigation channel by deepening the channel from about 14 metres to 19.5 metres and over a large area with width of about 250 metres and length of about 10 kms.”
Simoes stated that even after filing several complaints specifically pointing out the potential adverse environment impacts
and illegalities to all statutory authorities, no action was taken to stop the illegal dredging at MPT.
“It was then decided by the most effected fishermen unions to approach the National Green Tribunal which quashed and set aside the EC.”
“Mormugao Port Trust (MPT) and the Ministry of Environment & Forests (MoEF) were directed to pay cost of Rs 2 lakh each to the Old Cross Fishing Canoe Owners Co-op Society Ltd and Baina Ramponkar & Fishing Canoe Owners Society,” said Simoes in a press release.
Old Cross Canoe Association Owners Co-operative Society Ltd president Custodio D’Souza stated that Gadkari, instead of initiating action against the officials concerned involved in violating the provisions of the EIA Notification and misusing public tax payers money, has instead chose to blame the citizens of the country.
