the goan I network
PANAJI
Not sparing MPT either, the NGT in its order chided them for taking the environmental clearance as a mere formality.
“Despite being equipped with best of legal support and administrative advisors, it has commenced the project in the month of January, 2016, much before grant of EC on 9.2.2016. The very fact, it has commenced the project without even waiting for EC to be issued, shows disdainful conduct of 1st Respondent in treating mandatory provisions as mere formality and not as necessity to commence its project,” the NGT observed.
As reported earlier, the NGT had upheld the plea of the Old Cross Fishing Canoe Owners Cooperative Society and held that the MoEF’s decision to exempt the dredging project from a public hearing as part of the environmental clearance process as illegal.
“It is not clear how this particular exemption provision which is applicable only to the maintenance dredging, has been considered and relied upon by MoEF while issuing order dated 23rd September, 2015 exempting capital dredging activities from public consultation,” the NGT ruled.
