Team Herald
VASCO: Slamming the Goa State Pollution Control Board for failing to take any measures to control coal pollution in the port town, Vasco MLA Carlos Almeida on Tuesday said that until and unless coal pollution is brought under control, there is no need of getting more coal in port town.
He was speaking during the sixth day of public hearing held at Tilak Maidan, Vasco on Tuesday. The hearing was part of spill over of public hearing for dredging and redevelopment of berth numbers 8 & 9 and barge berth of MPT as the same could not be completed earlier. On the sixth day, only the hearing on dredging of approach channel was held, while the hearing on redevelopment of berth numbers 8 & 9 and barge berth of MPT would now be held on Wednesday.
“I first want to bring to the notice of people and officials that in the entire Legislative Assembly I had raised questions on coal pollution and the GSPCB in its reply had stated that the pollution level in Vasco is high. Now, I have two questions, firstly when pollution level was reported to be high then why did the GSPCB fail to withdraw its consent given to MPT to operate and secondly when we all know that the pollution is high then why we are getting more coal in port town. GSPCB should regulate present operation, which creates pollution and then go for any further expansion.” he said.
Almeida further said, “Also though the GSPCB has installed some ambient air monitoring system at few places in the port town, however, no one knows whether these machines are working. Thus I want to also place my demand that the GSPCB should make it mandatory for MPT to install digital ambient air monitoring system at some prime locations, so that all current pollution readings are put before the people and in real time”.
Slamming the MPT for its ‘outsiders’ remark, he said, “I want to inform MPT that we all are Goans here first and then Vascokars. So it should refrain making such statements.” He further said, “During last few days of public hearing, many NGOs and activists presented their views about the project and some important information about Vasco town. I want to thank them for their sincere and dedicated efforts”.
Meanwhile, during the sixth day of public hearing, several citizens came forward and while expressing their serious concerns over the proposed dredging project by MPT (redevelopment of berth number 8,9 and barge berth could not held) also opposed MPT’s dredging plans. Former parish priest of St Andrew’s Church, Fr Antonio Costa said, “Dredging would be disastrous.
Vasco-based businessman Bharat Kamat said, “ The dredging project would affect the rivers in the state.” Though the people have been posing serious questions to MPT on dredging, the MPT has failed to reply to the same.”
Olencio Simoes also slammed the MPT for giving contradictory information in draft EIA and in its affidavit filed before the court.
He sought to know as to how deep the MPT has dredged the approach channel.
He said, “When the navigational channel is only six kms then I want to know in detail how much area have they dredged. The information regarding the same should be provided. It is also noted that they have copy-pasted final EIA in the draft EIA for dredging which shows that the consultant appointed by MPT have don’t carried out this work. Also it is important to note that GCZMA expert committee official Dr Anthony Mascarenhas had mentioned about the ill effects of dredging, but draft EIA has no mention about the affect of dredging on the seabed”.
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Stop open coal handling: Vijai
PANJIM: Town and Country Planning Minister and Goa Forward Party mentor Vijai Sardesai stated that if the Mormugao Port Trust does not stop open handling of coal, then coal transportation activities should be stopped.
His statement comes in the wake of the criticism faced by GFP for the statement made by its spokesperson Prashant Naik recently.
Sardesai said that Naik’s statement has been taken out of context. “Stand of the GFP is very clear that we are against pollution and we will never support anyone who is causing pollution in Goa.”
Stating that MPT should not be allowed to transport coal in an open manner, he said, “Pollution can be tackled by having very strict monitoring and action at whichever point where there is contact with the public. Necessarily it cannot be handled in an open way. If the MPT goes ahead and continues with the open handling of the coal then we will push to stop coal transportation.”
Disapproving of being projected as protagonists of coal transportation through Goa, Sardesai said, “We are suggesting a way out that it shouldn’t be handled in an open way but closed handling. This has been misconstrued as we being protagonists of making Goa a coal highway or a coal corridor.”
Stating that there is an environment impact assessment being carried out and the public hearing being part of the same, he said, “Nobody should jump the gun and believe that the project is approved. I personally believe that the people who are aggrieved and have now come to the streets have reasons to come out and are justified. I completely sympathize with the people of Vasco who have been suffering for so long due to the coal pollution by MPT.”
