Goa: NGT stays nod to Mormugao Port's channel deepening project, Pg11

Key Highlights:

• The National Green Tribunal (NGT) stayed the operationalization of Environmental Clearance (EC) and Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) clearance for Mormugao Port Trust (MPT)'s channel deepening project.
• The stay was issued by the NGT's Western Zone Bench, Pune, on September 26, 2026, following an appeal.
• The project aimed to deepen the approach channel for cape-size vessels, increasing the port's handling capacity from 12 MTPA to 42.1 MTPA.
• Appellants challenged the clearance, citing concerns over increased air and water pollution from handling metallurgical ores and impact on fishermen's livelihoods.

Detailed Insights:

• The channel deepening project at Mormugao Port is designed to accommodate larger cape-size vessels, significantly boosting its capacity for handling coal and other ores.
• Appellants highlighted the lack of proper assessment regarding air pollution from coal/coke dust, which could affect over 1 lakh residents in Vasco Da Gama.
• Concerns were also raised about the project's impact on the livelihood of fishermen from 10 villages, as dredging could destroy vital fish spawning grounds.
• The NGT noted discrepancies in the grant of EC and CRZ clearance, including conditions that appeared to be "copied and pasted" and irrelevant to the specific project.
• The tribunal directed MPT to provide evidence that an IIT Bombay source apportionment study for air quality in Vasco Da Gama was presented to the Expert Appraisal Committee (EAC).
• An earlier EC for the project, granted in February 2016, was quashed by the NGT in September 2016 due to the absence of a mandatory public hearing.
• The matter was subsequently remanded back to the EAC for further action, leading to a fresh application and approval of Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) study terms in 2016.

Key Concepts Involved:

• National Green Tribunal (NGT): A statutory body in India established to handle cases relating to environmental protection and conservation of natural resources.
• Environmental Clearance (EC): A mandatory approval required from the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) for certain projects to proceed, based on their potential environmental impact.
• Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ): Regulations under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, that restrict industrial and developmental activities in coastal areas to protect ecosystems.
• Mormugao Port Trust (MPT): One of India's major port authorities, located in Goa, responsible for managing and operating the Mormugao Port.
• Expert Appraisal Committee (EAC): A committee of experts that evaluates Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) reports and makes recommendations for granting or rejecting Environmental Clearance (EC).