The Goan: Why has nopublic hearing been held to facilitate a pollution clearance for coal handling
Levinson Martins, Member Secretary, GSPCB:No Environment Impact assessment has been done for the coal berths has been carried out. PublicHearings are held only when there is environment impact assessmentnotifications are issued. For any new project MOEF clearances is required sofor that a public hearing is held. As per coal pollution, I’m not aware about apublic hearing but it should have been done initially.
TG: How Many agenciesare collecting data pertaining to Coal Pollution?
LM: There areagencies which are accredited by Ministry of Environment and Forest who areinvolved in collecting data’s. We are doing it through Italab, Margao.
TG: Each of them havetheir own findings, out of these whom do you trust?
LM: Acomprehensive view needs to be taken since the community is involved. We askaccredited agencies to carry out studies. The lowest bidder is selected andgiven the tender
TG: Why has thepollution control board failed to stop coal pollution?
LM: We had issueda show cause notice to MPT and after hearing their side we would take action.Even the Environment Minister had assured that action would be taken againstcoal pollution.
(The Goan comments:Clearly the MPT and the GPSCB has shownthe complete lack of will to tackle this menace)
