Gujarat’s top environmental NGO Paryavaran Mitra has taken strong exception to the proposed environmental public hearing of the Nayara Energy Ltd in Jamnagar and Devbhoomi Dwarka districts, organized by the Gujarat Pollution Control Board (GPCB), scheduled for July 28 and 29, citing the current restrictions because of the Covid-19 pandemic.
In a letter to Gujarat chief minister Vijay Rupani, NGO director Mahesh Pandya said, on June 25 it had drawn the attention of the Jamnagar and Devbhoomi Dwarka district collectors, as also senior GPCB officials towards the need to postpone the hearing, “but, no action has been taken by them regarding this.”
“Our experience suggests that during such public hearings anywhere between 50 and 5,000 people participate”, the letter stated, adding, the decision to hold the public hearing is particularly surprising, as cinema halls, gymnasiums, swimming pools, entertainment parks, theatres, bars, auditoriums, assembly halls etc. remain closed in view of the pandemic, and there are restrictions on on large social large gatherings.
“Even in a tragic event like the death of a person only 20 persons are allowed to remain present”, the letter said, adding, “During wedding, only 50 people are allowed to.” Against this backdrop, the NGO said, the GPCB has clearly “violated” the state home department order, issued on June 30 by seeking to go ahead with environmental public hearing.
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