Deposit 50 crore with GCZMA: NGT directs MPT

Pune: The National Green Tribunal bench has directed the Mormugao Port Trust (MPT) to deposit 50 crore with the Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority (GCZMA) within a week or the ongoing capital dredging work for deepening of the navigation channel in Vasco bay to allow larger ships into the port area will be stopped.
The tribunal appointed a four-member expert committee to study the environmental status and impacts due to the dredging operations from January 3 this year as a part of the 360 crore project to facilitate navigation of capsize vessels (largest dry cargo ships) under any state of tide and increase the material handling capacity of MPT.
A bench of Justice Jawad Rahim and expert member Ajay A Desphande observed in an order on May 4, "This is a typical scenario where prima facie gross irregularity in grant of Environment Clearance (EC) can be seen, along with lack of regulatory control, during the conduct of dredging operations. At the same time, the subject of dredging operations are necessary for the overall development."
Two traditional fishing cooperatives in Vasco, Goa - Old Cross Fishing Canoe Owners Co-op Society Ltd and Baina Ramponkar and Fishing Canoe Owners Society, had alleged that the ministry of environment and forests granted an EC to the project on February 9 — more than a month after the dredging work had started. , and without following the due process under the EC Regulations, 2006 wherein public consultation is one of the key requirements.
The decision to exempt the project from public hearing or consultation process was taken at a meeting of the group on infrastructure, chaired by Union minister for road transport, highways and shipping Nitin Gadkari and attended by minister of state for environment and forestson December 16, 2014.
Lawyer Asim Sarode filed an application on behalf of the two fishing cooperatives, seeking an urgent interim relief to stop the dredging work till the disposal of the main appeal. The applicants argued that deepening of channel from 14 metres to 19.5 metres over a 250-metre wide area and 10km in length will cause severe environmental damage including effect on water quality, on habitats of local aquatic life and destruction of livelihood activity of local fishing community. Besides, disturbing the tidal currents and causing erosion of adjoining beaches.
The bench ruled that it was not inclined to stay the dredging operations subject to compliance of directions including the MPT depositing 50 crore with GCZMA and an expert committee assessment of the project impact."The tribunal needs to take a balanced view in such cases based on principles of sustainable development without negating the precautionary principle to ensure that development can take place without any adverse impact on the environment," the bench observed.The tribunal has fixed the main appeal for final hearing on May 24.()
Why the project
Mormugao Port Trust caters to Goa, Karnataka and parts of Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh for trade in coal, iron ore and general cargo items. Although it is ideally located to serve the industries in these states, a lot of cargo, including coal, is imported through some of the ports situated in the eastern coast of India despite the rail distance from these ports to the industries is much more compared to Mormugao. The ports in eastern coast have deeper channel to handle large ships.
Imports/exports through capsize will result in freight advantage and thereby the industries stand to benefit. It will also make imports cheaper and exports more competitive leading to overall economic growth and employment creation.