TEAM HERALD
VASCO: Forests and Environment Minister Alina Saldanha along with Power Minister Milind Naik and Goa State Pollution Control Board Chairman (GSPCB) Jose Noronha on Thursday inspected the coal handling plants of Jindal South West (JSW) and Adani at Mormugao harbour.
Naik brought to the notice of Saldanha that the coal dust pollution had increased, thereby causing various problems to residents of Bogda and Sada.
“Coal stacks are not covered properly and coal dust enters houses at Sada and Bogda when wind blows,” Naik said.
Saldanha asked the officials of JSW and Adani to cover their coal stacks properly with tarpaulin and constantly spray water over these to avoid coal dust pollution.
Naik also brought to their notice the uncovered coal stack which has contributed to the coal dust.
Naik told media persons that he had brought to the notice of all the agencies concerned coal dust pollution on December 19, 2014.
“The inspection today was carried out to access the ground level situation,” he said.
GSPCB Chairman Noronha said they have already installed coal dust pollution monitoring machines at Sada.
“Two more air monitoring units will be installed at the site and it will be monitored every Tuesday and Thursday. If the officials find that coal dust is more than permissible limits, I will be forced to cancel their licenses,” warned Noronha.
Despite erecting signboards on safety measures at JSW and the need for workers to wear masks to avoid inhaling coal dust, all workers and officers were seen without face masks.
When this was brought to the notice of unit in-charge A Kamble, he was caught off guard and said the pollution was within permissible limits.
