the goan I network
VASCO
Yielding to public concerns raised over the initial venue for the public hearing, the Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB) has decided to convene the Environmental Public Hearing (EPH) on MPT’s development plans at Tilak Maidan on April 25 from 10.30 am onwards.
The public notice issued by GSPCB dated March 20 states that the EPH on ‘Proposed development of Fishing Jetty, Passenger Jetty, Multipurpose general cargo berths and POL Terminal at Mormugao Port Trust’ is being conducted to “ascertain concerns of the affected persons who can express their views or seek information or clarifications from the project proponent.”
The EPH will be conducted by the GSPCB and the district magistrate/deputy collector and assisted by a GSPCB representative shall supervise and preside over the public hearing.
Concerned persons “having plausible stake in the environmental aspects of the project or activity can send their views, suggestions, comments and objections in writing on or before the scheduled date of public hearing to the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change, Delhi or the GSPCB.”
Incidentally, details of the EPH have been sent to the various government offices, panchayats of Sancoale, Chicalim, Chicolna and Velsao-Pale in Mormugao taluka, the panchayats of Taleigao, Curca-Bambolim, Siridao-Pale, St Lawrence (Agassaim) and Batim in Tiswadi taluka as well as prominent libraries in the respective areas.
The Corporation of the City of Panaji and the Mormugao Municipal Council have also received intimation of the EPH.
Hard copies of the executive summary containing the salient features of the project in Konkani and English, the draft Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) and other details by the proponent has been made available for reference at various offices in the area, while soft copies can also be referred on the website of the GSPCB.
Proceedings of the EPH will be forwarded to the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change for appropriate action in the matter.
It may be recalled that Mormugao Deputy Collector Mahadev Arondekar had earlier said the EPH for MPT’s development plans had been fixed at Ravindra Bhavan in Baina on April 20.
The Niz Goenkar Revolution Front (NGRF) and activists, however, objected to this on grounds that it would not accommodate the huge crowd expected to attend the public hearing.
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