Team Herald

VASCO: Raising their concerns over the spillage of coal by trucks along the road, Vasco residents have demanded that the concerned authorities such as MMC immediately stop the coal transportation along the roads in port town.

Nazir Khan, a local businessman and resident of Vasco said,  “These coal trucks ply along the F L Gomes road for transporting coal from the port and every morning what we see is the coal spillage on the road, especially at the sharp turns or near the speed breakers. This frequent coal spillage has increased the coal dust pollution in the port town. 

Another resident Sandeep Naik said, “Few weeks back we had raised the issue and MPT had issued a statement in media that they will issue strict instructions to the coal transporters to cover the coal cargo properly before transporting the same. But I think that the assurance was only a lip service as coal spillage has not stopped and in fact the menace has increased severely. It is high time the authorities act against the coal transporters failing which we will have to come out on streets”.

It may be recalled that the MMC had resolved to ban the coal transportation on the town roads, but till date it has not materialised. MMC authorities had sent the resolution to the District Collector South, but the latter has failed to give his consent in implementing the decision which was adopted unanimously by the civic body.

MMC chairperson Deepak Naik has assured to take up the matter seriously. Naik said that he would officially write to the MPT to look into the matter failing which he along with the locals would stop coal transportation through Vasco. 

“Spillage of coal on the roads is serious issue as the same is also contributing to coal pollution in the town. We will write to the MPT to look into the matter and finally if the menace continues then we will come out on roads along with the locals to stop coal transportation along Vasco roads. We will not tolerate such menace in future,” Naik warned.