PANAJI
The Expert Appraisal Committee (EAC) of the Union Ministry for Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) has re-recommended the grant of environmental clearance (EC) to the Mormugao Port Trust (MPT) for the deepening of the approach channel for handling Capesize vessels and for increasing the size of two berths to handle bigger cargo ships.
In January 2020, the EAC had initially approved the project; however, the same was put 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 6 September 2022, the MPT 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.
During its meeting held earlier this month, the EAC observed that there is no change in the earlier proposal and the current proposal even after superimposing the layout map on CZMP 2011.
“The EAC, taking into account the submission, recommended the project for grant of environmental and CRZ clearance as per the earlier recommendations with specific conditions mentioned in the earlier EAC, in addition to all standard conditions applicable for such projects,” stated the minutes of the meeting.
The Mormugao Port has proposed to deepen the existing navigation channel in Vasco bay from about 14 metres to 19.5 metres over a large area with a width of about 250 metres and a length of about 10 km.
MPT wants to deepen the depth of the approach channel to 19.5“19.8 m from the existing depth of 14“14.4 m over an 18 km length.
The EAC has said that no construction other than what is permitted as per the Coastal Regulation Zone Notification can be done. “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 EAC said.
The EAC has also 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.
