PANAJI
The Bombay High Court at Goa has issued notices to the Central government’s Ministry of Environment Forests and Climate Change (MoEF & CC) based on a petition filed by JSW’s South West Port Ltd seeking court directions to the ministry to consider their application for an environmental clearance for their expansion projects.
South West Port Ltd filed an application for grant of environmental clearance. The clearance is yet to be granted despite a recommendation from the Expert Appraisal Committee of the Ministry.
Speaking to The Goan, Adv Subodh Kantak who represents South West Port Ltd, told The Goan that the petition came to be heard and has been adjourned to Monday with a direction to issue notices to the respondents -- MoEF&CC and Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority.
At stake is South West Port’s berth expansion plans at its berths 5A and 6A which are being operated on a long-term lease with MPT.
The National Green Tribunal has directed that states should not grant any environmental clearance for development activity which falls within the permissible area/regulated area (CRZ) until the Coastal Zone Management Plans are in place as any permissions being granted would defeat the purpose of the Coastal Zone Management Plan.
Earlier the SWPL had approached the NGT in Delhi seeking an exemption from this. “Since the applicant already possesses an EC, it will not defeat the intent of the order dated 22/11/2017 or the process of finalisation of the CZMP in the State of Goa,” SWPL has argued.
SWPL has proposed to deploy highly mechanised and efficient environment-friendly material handling systems so that the cargo handling capacity at the berth is increased consequently, in the process reducing environmental pollution by retrofitting state-of-the-art latest dust entrapment systems to meet its demand.
SWPL currently handles mainly coal but also limestone and export of steel at berths 5A & 6A using cranes, ship unloaders and wagon loading system.
SWPL claims that after modernisation, the consequential capacity enhancement shall be achieved by deploying highly mechanised and efficient environment-friendly material handling system, and by enhancing the existing conveyor speed, and improving the rake loading turnaround time through operational efficiency, thus, making the evacuation and despatch more efficient.
The total cargo to be handled is expected to go up to 12 to 13 MTPA of bulk (consisting of coal, iron ore, limestone, dolomite, bauxite, mineral ores and other miscellaneous cargo), and about 2 MTPA of unitised cargo (consisting of steel bars, coils, flats and plates, and other steel products).
