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Environment Impact Assessment report misleading, says Sarma
Former union power secretary and activist EAS Sarma objected to the proposed public hearing of capacity utilisation of two berths as the Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) study has been a hollow report and misleading.
Visakhapatnam: Former union power secretary and activist EAS Sarma objected to the proposed public hearing of capacity utilisation of two berths as the Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) study has been a hollow report and misleading.
In a release here on Wednesday, Sarma said the EIA study has suppressed some facts, directly relevant to the project under consideration. On a petition filed by an NGO, Chaitanya Sravanthi against VPT pollution concerns, the National Green Tribunal issued a direction on March 3 this year to the port authorities to take measures to contain the pollution levels within safe levels.
The NGT observed that though various anthropogenic activities are responsible for increase in air pollution, the respondent port, being the main point source of dust emission while handling the coal cargo, shall bear major responsibility for increase in the air pollution, particularly in its vicinity and it shall continue to strive to give top priority and utmost attention to this aspect in the interest of environment.
Even the latest status report filed by the board on May 6 last year indicated that the RSPM are beyond the permitted levels at some of the monitoring stations. The EIA study has conveniently suppressed NGT's direction that APPCB and VPT should submit monthly reports for six months on the steps taken by the port to bring down the pollution levels.
The EIA study stated that the ambient air quality was monitored at 10 locations in the city and the results were compared with the National Ambient Air Quality Standards, 2009 for industrial, residential rural and other areas. All the values were within norms.
The above statement is far from the true state of affairs, Sarma said. He said Ministry of Environment , Forest and Climate Change issued a notification notifying 14 villages abutting the Kambalakonda Sanctuary as an ‘eco-sensitive zone imposing certain restrictions.
The EIA study is totally silent on this and has made no effort to study the impact of the project not only on the sanctuary but also on the eco-sensitive zone. Sarma urged the ministry to revoke the accreditation granted to the EIA consultant, Ultratech and direct APPCB to defer the public hearing.
