State favours amendments to EIA

Wants people’s view at public hearings respected
By Herald Reporter
PANJIM, AUG 19 As the central government has been unilaterally granting Environmental Clearances for mining in the State, the Goa government has sought amendments to Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) Notification 2006 so that people’s views at public hearings are respected and that more powers are given to State Pollution Control Board to decide on environment concerns.

A memorandum highlighting the issue of environmental clearances was submitted to the Union Minister for Environment and Forest Jairam Ramesh when a delegation led by Chief Minister Digambar Kamat called on him in New Delhi yesterday. The delegation included Forest Minister Filipe Neri Rodrigues, Minister for Environment Aleixo Sequeira, Chief Conservator of Forest Dr Sashi Kumar, Chairman of Goa State Pollution Control Board, Dr Simon de Souza and Director of Science, Technology & Environment Michael D’Souza.It is stated in the memorandum that amendment to EIA notification is necessary as there is a general apprehension that the central ministry is somewhat indifferent to the ground realities of the state of Goa particularly in issuing environmental clearances to the mining industry.

Inspite of local ecological, socio-economic and cultural objections which are recorded during the Environmental Public Hearings (EPH), the Expert Advisory Committee of MoEF has chosen to grant clearances.

The memorandum also made reference to the objections raised at such public hearings. These include that the EIA studies are erroneous and not always factually correct. The public have also expressed that they have never noticed any agency conducting or carrying out ambient air quality monitoring, ground water/surface water monitoring and noise monitoring at locations stated in the EIA study.More importantly, the objections raised by the public in public consultations have not been considered while granting Environmental Clearance by the union ministry of environment and forest and except in two cases, all the projects have been granted Environmental Clearances, the memorandum signed by Aleixo Sequeira said.

Interestingly, it has been mentioned that since 2003, around 141 Environmental Clearances have been granted for a small state like Goa and that too predominantly in four talukas of the state – namely Bicholim, Sanguem Sattari and Quepem.

The State government’s or the Goa State Pollution Control Board’s views do not find place in the whole procedure and process, the memorandum says.

AS per the provisions of EIA Notification 2006, State Pollution Control Board has to publish an advertisement on public hearing within seven days of receipt of the application and after the hearing, the minutes are to be forwarded to the union ministry. The state pollution control board has not been provided with any role as per the notification. As such, the Goa government made a strong case for amending it so that the State pollution control board is empowered to act and advise the central ministry accordingly.

CLUSTER MINING: It has been observed that each mine individually carries out EIA study when in many places mining is carried out in clusters.“Hence such clusters should be identified and a combined EIA study should be carried out for mines operating in these talukas”, the memorandum says.The role of regional office of MoEF can also be undertaken by the Board which will help resolve many a monitoring issues and curb unhealthy mining practices.

20 August 2009, Herald, Panjim