Political heat over the issue of coal transportation and expansion of MPT’s facilities for increased coal pollution has reached fever pitch with the Chief Minister tearing into the Congress for essentially giving all permissions for JSW and Adani owned operations to operate their coal handling through MPT and further that Environment minister Jayanti Nattarajan waived off the public hearing for environment clearance for the Adanis.
While this upping the ante to quell the opposition as well as ground level activism against coal, is strategic, greater significance of the discussion should be on some of the other operational points, which are anyway more important than who gave the permissions for the entry of companies which have allegedly transported far in excess of their quota. This should be the focus from now on. The role of MPT and the operators need to be not just scrutinised but immediate action taken on them for clear acts of pollution.
Mormugao Port Trust’s (MPT) mooring dolphin facility for offshore handling of coal and other cargo, allegedly operational for over a decade and half without Consent to Operate, is serious.
Moreover, the GSPCB has moved for criminal prosecution of Mormugao Port Trust (MPT) and M/s South West Port Limited (SWPL) before the Judicial Magistrate First Class (JMFC) at Vasco for handling of coal in excess of the prescribed limit.
In July last year The Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB) has observed that the pollution levels at the coal berth facilities at Mormugao Port Trust (MPT) exceed the permissible limit with particulate matter more or less consistently high throughout the year.
It observed that the pollution level, which is between severe to moderately polluted, may cause respiratory effects on healthy people and serious lung and heart diseases to children and older persons.
Shouldn’t this be the primary focus? The government has assured that there will be no expansion unless pollution levels are nullified. But we are not in any stage to be confident that will happen given the nature of the pollution and the fact that MPT has been a silent spectator to this for their economic interests. This is clearly the crux of the matter.
The CM is right when he says the issue is pollution caused due to coal transportation. But the Goa Pollution Control Board is specific about the causes and the deep impact. This is no hearsay. This is borne out by specific observations by the authority on pollution. The question of any further expansion therefore does not rise again and it is a relief that the state has committed on this and must keep it.
Vijai Sardesai the leader of Goa Forward and the de-facto number two in the Parrikar cabinet, led the movement against expansion of coal facilities. He needs to be and has stated that he is consistent, in that stand. He stated in the Assembly that coal transporters have been “caught cheating” by transporting in excess of their declared amounts. Action should therefore follow on these lines.
The angst of the people of Goa against coal pollution is justified becaue of clear sufferings. At the same time, beyond the political rhetoric, the government too should be given a chance since it has been engaging. These are non-negotiable, which the government has agreed to 1) Further expansion of coal handling and transport facilities 2) Strict action against big coal transporting companies for excess transportation 3) Drastic reduction in current quantities moved till pollution levels come down to permissible levels.
If the last of the points does not materialise, then there should be a complete stop to coal transportation. And most importantly both the ruling coalition and the opposition should be on one page on this and fight jointly. Because as Justice Patel of the then Goa bench of the High Court observed so eloquently “Goa is a land worth fighting for”.
