PANAJI
The Union Ministry for Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) has granted environmental and Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) clearance to the Mormugao Port Authority (MPA) for deepening the approach channel in order to suit the navigational requirements of cape-size vessels for bulk cargo transportation as the port intends to increase its cargo handling capacity at two berths. The project will be taken up at an estimated cost of Rs 289 crore.
The Ministry through a communication to the MPT Chairman on July 21 accorded EC and CRZ clearance to the project.
In April, this year, the Expert Appraisal Committee (EAC) of the Ministry had approved the project recommending grant of EC. The project initially considered in 2020, was kept on hold due to an embargo imposed by the National Green Tribunal (NGT) in the Mehdad vs Union of India case, which stalled all development projects until the State’s Coastal Zone Management Plan (CZMP) 2011 was finalised and notified.
With the CZMP finally being notified on September 6, 2022, the MPA obtained fresh clearance from the Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority (GCZMA) in June 2024 and accordingly moved a fresh proposal to the EAC for environmental and CRZ clearance in January this year.
“Based on the recommendation of the EC, the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change hereby accords environmental and CRZ clearance to the project ‘Deepening of Approach Channel for Cape-size Vessels’ at Mormugao Port by M/s Mormugao Port Trust under the provision of EIA notification 2006 and CRZ notification 2011,” the letter stated.
The Mormugao Port has proposed to deepen the existing outer channel from 14.40m to 19.80m and inner channel and approaches to the berth 5, 6 & 7 from 14.10m to 19.50 m. The extension proposed to the existing channel is 3.5km.
“As such the total length of the approach channel after the capital dredging will be 10.3km and the width of the channel is 250m to 580m,” the Ministry said.
The Ministry noted that the MPA in its proposal has said that the port is strategically located to cater to the needs of the coal requirement of steel and power plants of its hinterland in Karnataka. The MPA has two dedicated berths which have a combined capacity of about 12 million tonnes per annum.
The MPA said that the port has proposed redevelopment of Berths 8 & 9 and Barge berths on PPP basis and Berths for handling cape-size vessels for the export of iron ore and general cargo which is of great economic benefit to the State and country. Bulk cargo import/export stands to gain significantly in terms of fright benefit, if it is done through cape-size vessels.
“MPA, taking into account the growing competition from the private ports and other major ports in the vicinity, has decided to deepen the approach channel to suit the navigational requirements of cape-size vessels,” the Ministry noted.
The Ministry has said that no construction other than what is permitted as per the Coastal Regulation Zone Notification can be done. MPA is directed to obtain Consent under Air and Water Pollution Act from the Goa State Pollution Control Board.
“Dredging shall not be carried out during the fish breeding season. Dredging, etc. shall be carried out in a confined manner to reduce the impacts on the marine environment,” the Ministry said while banning underwater blasting.
The Ministry said that while carrying out dredging, independent monitoring shall be carried out by a government agency or institute to check the impact and necessary measures should be taken on a priority basis if any adverse impact is observed.
