From Coal to POL People of Vasco brace for a new fight against the Petrol, Oil & Lubricant berth

Following major concerns over the existing oil tanks in the city, now the Vasco residents are worried that the latest proposed expansion project by the Mormugao Port Trust (MPT) which includes development of a petroleum (POL) berth at Vasco Bay would be a ‘Nuclear Bomb’ for the over saturated port Town of Vasco.

According to the concerned citizens, their research on the MPT’s expansion plans have revealed the final feasibility report for Vasco bay development plan, prepared by MPT’s Consultants includes a 520-metre long finger quay perpendicular to Vasco Bay (Kharewaddo beach) with Petroleum, Oil and Lubricants (POL) berth on the western side and a fishing harbour on the eastern side, separated by a security wall. The project primarily envisions development of berth for liquid bulk products including LPG, and a fishing jetty with estimated cost of the project of Rs 116.38 cr.

Citizens further claimed that the Vasco bay development plan also includes making available 40,000 m² MPT land in a residential area at Baina for setting up of tank farms for liquid cargo storage Named as “Modernisation and Expansion of Port Infrastructure for Fishing, Coastal & Multipurpose Cargo Berth and Liquid/General Cargo” under Sagarmala scheme.

“A bulk liquid cargo (POL) berth in the Vasco Bay and tank farm at Baina will be the worst misfortune that could fall upon our town which is already sitting on time bomb” said Vasco based Environment Activist Advocate Savio J F Correia who has been shadowing MPT expansion plans.

He further said that “Initially MPT only mentioned about the POL berths at Vasco bay and tanks farms for liquid cargo storage at Baina separately so that public cannot assess the cumulative impact. They did the same thing with respect to the three projects at the public hearing showing them as separate projects when actually they are interlinked. MPT seems to have perfected Harry Truman’s advice: ‘If you cannot convince them, confuse them’,” Correia said.

Meanwhile the MPT’s website states that on February 2017 MPT approached the Ministry of Environment and Forests for granting environmental clearance for the project and terms of reference (TOR) were finalised by Expert Appraisal Committee in April. The final feasibility report speaks of re-locating the petroleum jetty from Berth no. 8 to the new berth at Vasco Bay to make way for re-development of berth no. 8 along with adjoining berths for coal handling. The project involves 65,000 sq metres of marine reclamation and 1.62 million cubic metres of capital dredging. The benefits of the project as per the feasibility report include ‘making fishing operations easy and efficient and giving boost to economical welfare of fishermen’. The final feasibility report concludes that the project needs to be taken up to avoid diversion of liquid cargo to other competing ports and to serve the hinterland of Goa.

“This is something which is more serious. Already Vasco is sitting on time bomb and shifting POL berths near the city and having more tanks farms at Baina will be like planting nuclear bomb in the Vasco. We are not opposed to fishing jetty but having POL berths near the city would pose serious threat to the lives of citizens.” said Advocate T T Sridharan, President of ‘The Concerned Citizens’ Group Vasco.

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