VASCO
Raising his objection before the presiding officer Johnson Fernandes, Avinash Tavares said the study conducted by MPT and coal handling agencies had been “improper, fraudulent and misleading”.
“Dredging will have negative impact on the estuaries and no experts nor professionals were involved in conducting studies on marine life and marine ecology. The study by MPT on marine life and environment is insufficient and has hidden certain facts from the EIA. The dredging will have ill-effects not only on marine ecology, but also on the environment,” said Tavares.
In a presentation, marine biologist Puja Mitra claimed that dredging would damage the marine life and ecology, besides the environment. “High sedimentation during dredging will increase the coral mortality rate and other marine species at Chicalim, Grande Island, Sancoale
and Dona Paula. There are no records or sightings of rare/endangered/threatened in the area mentioned in the report by MPT within the radius of 7.5 km of dredging.”
“During dredging operations, the removal of materials from the seabed will result in complete removal of animals living on the sediments from the excavation site. Dolphins have been regularly sited near Dona Paula bay area which is 4.5 kms from the project and the increased turbidity and noise levels would drive away these highly sensitive species,” added Mitra.
Cryil Fernandes of Chicalim Villagers Action Committee said dredging will displace the fishermen from Khariwada area and also destroy the marine life at Chicalim bay.
“The fishing community were residing at Kharawada and Baina much before MPT could come into existence and before taking up any projects, MPT should first consult these people and go ahead with its proposals instead of autocratically forcing it on them.”
The public hearing went on till late Thursday night and as did not conclude, Fernandes decided to adjourn the meeting to the second half of April 29.
