Environment clearance was for construction of rail freight terminal at Xic-Xelvona; Assolda panchayat and locals opposed the grant of EC PANJIM: The State Expert Appraisal Committee (SEAC) of the Environment Department has kept in abeyance the environment clearance (EC) granted to Sociedade de Fomento for the construction of a rail freight terminal at Xic-Xelvona, following opposition from the locals. Also, the State Environment Impact Assessment Authority (SEIAA) has issued show cause notice to the company seeking clarification on project specific observations made by SEAC and SEIAA which includes NOC from the Forest department, zonal certificate, conversion sanad and details of additional land proposed to be acquired. SEIAA, last year, had granted EC to Sociedade de Fomento to construct a terminal for handling multi-cargo systems at Assolda and Xic-Xelvona. Following this the Assolda village panchayat and individual stakeholders complained before SEIAA to withdraw the EC. The VP has also approached the National Green Tribunal (NGT) to quash the EC. The appeal, to be heard on February 22, is filed against SEIAA, Sociedade de Fomento, State of Goa, Goa State Pollution Control Board, Union Ministry of Environment and Forest and Principal Conservator of Forest. “As the opposition is from multiple stake holders on multiple counts, the Committee seeks to deliberate on this issue with utmost care and at length and as such has decided to defer the decision at this juncture and felt that the prior environmental clearance (EC) granted by the Authority to the said project proposal be kept in abeyance till all the alleged violations/objections are ascertained and clarified by the State EIA Authority,” the SEAC resolved in its meeting held last month. During the special gram sabha on January 3, the villagers of Assolda, Xelvona, Xic-Xelvona and Hodar unanimously resolved to oppose the proposed rail freight terminal at Xic-Xelvona.