http://bharatmukti.blogspot.in/2017/05/from-dona-paula-to-agassaim-zuari-river.html
Date: 28th April 2017
To,
Member Secretary,
Goa State Pollution Control Board,
Panjim, Goa
Subject: Objections to EIA on redevelopment of berth 8, 9 and Barge berth at MPT
Sir,
This is to bring to your notice that above mentioned Environment Impact
Assessment (EIA) has totally ignored existence of fishing villages and fish
landing stations on the Zuari river bank. Villages such as Madkai, Aggasaim,
Siridao, Bambolim, Nauxim, Cacra, Odxel, Dona Paula and Caranzalem are totally
missing in EIA even though they are located within 10 kms radius from MPT site
of proposed re-development of berth 8, 9 and Barge berth.
Sir, we have an apprehension that this has been deliberately done by WAPCOS at
the instance of MPT. We strongly oppose the omission fishing villagers and
fishermen from the above mentioned EIA. This is a great fraud on the part of
MPT and the Government of India on Goa.
We also protest hiding of the key information of this project in the above
cited EIA that all this has been done for the benefit of Vedanta owned Goa Sea
Port Pvt Ltd. Vedanta Barges are already clashing with fishermen in Zuari and
Mandovi, and Goa Fisheries department has served warning letters to several
organizations of Fishermen all over Goa at the instance of Vedanta.
This project we apprehend will create a situation where in fishing in Goa’s
rivers would be impossible. This situation is very grave considering that
simultaneously Government of India has gone ahead and declared six rivers of
Goa as National Highways.
Barges and existing shipyards along Goa’s rivers and particularly in Zuari
river has already caused extensive damage. We here re-produce an extract from
an exclusive interview of past Chairman of MPT Cyril George to Goa based
newspaper named Herald on 17/06/2015:
People should also understand that there are so many shipyards not following
environmental laws, besides there are barges along the Zuari river bay and each
of these barges has created health hazards, environmental hazards and
environmental hazards, besides pollution. These aspects are ignored.
Sir, When the Chairman of MPT itself speaks out the truth of barge
transportation in public domain, how can MoEF grant them Environmental
Clearance? Further we want to state that the Zuari river bay is within the
Jurisdiction of MPT from May 24, 2000 and Chairman Cyril George’s above
findings does not figure at all in above draft EIA. EIA does not share any
light as to what measures MPT has taken to stop health hazards, environmental
hazards and pollution caused by barges from the time its Chairman Cyril George
spoke about it in public on 17/06/2015. Central Government issued gazette
notification issued by Ministry of Surface Transport (Department of Shipping),
(Port Wing) on May 24, 2000 declaring MPT jurisdiction over Zuari river and its
coast covering Cacra, Nauxim, Bambolim, Odxel, Dona Paula, Siridao, Sancoale
and Cortalim Coast signed by:
“On the East – All the waters of River Zuari, West of Agassaim – Cortalim Ferry
(Excluding the ferry and the landing stages)”.
The Gazette of India (Extraordinary), Part II – Section 3 – sub – section (i)
signed by K.V.Rao, Jt.Secy
Due to the above glaring fallacies in the EIA itself, EC must be rejected by
MoEF. However in case EC is granted by MoEF then it will be further
confirmation of Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar’s statement carried widely
in various newspapers by PTI on 06/09/2012 that MoEF is a corrupt Ministry and
grants EC clearances based on collection of bribes from corporate and turns
blind eye to rampant illegalities in Goa.
Thanking you,
Yours sincerely,
Sd/-
Maggie Silveira
President
Goa Unit
