PANAJI
The National Green Tribunal’s (NGT) Western Zone Bench has stayed operationalization of the environmental clearance (EC) and Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) clearance granted to the Mormugao Port Authority’s channel-deepening project until the next hearing, scheduled next month.
The port trust was also given two weeks to submit supporting evidence concerning the IIT Bombay source apportionment study after appellant pointed out that the details of the study were not placed before the Expert Appraisal Committee (EAC) of the MoEF&CC when the EC was considered.
In an order dated September 26, the bench comprising Judicial Member Justice Dinesh Kumar Singh and Expert Member Dr Sujit Kumar Bajpayee cited discrepancies in the grant of the clearances after hearing arguments in an interim application filed by Rupesh Shinkre and another appellant.
The appellants have sought a stay on the environmental and CRZ clearances dated July 21, 2025, raising concerns over potential air and water pollution, coal and ore handling, dredging impacts, and shortcomings in the environmental assessment process.
“After having heard the arguments and looking to the discrepancies in the case in hand in grant of EC and CRZ, we are of the view that till the next date, impugned EC & CRZ clearance shall not be operationalized,” the order stated while listing the matter for next hearing on November 2.
The bench also raised concerns over certain conditions incorporated into the EC and CRZ clearances, observing that several appeared unrelated to the project and may have been “copied and pasted from other approvals”.
The tribunal noted that it had not received adequate assistance from the counsel representing the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change on how these conditions had been incorporated.
The MPA sought additional time to submit a tabular statement of compliance with the terms of reference. The tribunal granted three weeks as a final opportunity.
During the hearing, the appellants argued that the environmental impact assessment (EIA) had not adequately assessed the likely air and water pollution arising from dust generated during the handling of metallurgical ores, including coal and coke. They contended that deepening the approach channel would allow larger vessels to enter the port, potentially increasing coal-handling capacity at berths 5, 6 and 7 from 12 million tonnes per annum (MTPA) to 42.1 MTPA.
The tribunal examined earlier observations of the Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB), which had recorded elevated particulate matter levels at several monitoring locations around the port during 2016. The proceedings also referred to a study by the National Institute of Oceanography highlighting the potential pollution risks associated with coal dust.
The bench also considered the minutes of a Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority (GCZMA) meeting held in May 2024, which recorded concerns about the proposed dredging, including its possible effects on the estuary, seabed, riverbanks, surrounding beaches and marine biodiversity.
The inspection report referred to a proposed channel depth of approximately 19 metres and estimated that the dredging could generate around 15 million cubic metres of material. It recommended a fresh EIA before dredging, along with further studies on seabed stability, sediment characteristics and impacts on terrestrial and marine life.
