In a statement and a stand which, prima facie, is a massive acknowledgement and bowing down to people’s aspirations, Chief Minister Parrikar went to the extent of saying in the Assembly that his government will ask the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change not to allow expansion of coal import projects, unless pollution levels, reached during the handling and transportation of coal, declines.
Coming from the Chief Minister himself, the people of Vasco and Goa who have relentlessly taken on the MPT and the government on coal pollution can wear this statement of the Chief Minister on the floor of the House as a badge of honour. And that is not all. The Adani Murmogao Port terminal and the South West Port terminal, importing coal to MPT have been directed to reduce their capacity by 25%. The impact of this goes beyond the immediately. It’s an interesting, important and a goal post changing development where a state government will be actually writing to the Environment ministry to stop a project expansion of a union government administered institution, – MPT-. This would have been hitherto virtually unbelievable.
It is apparent that backing the MPT on its expansion projects was becoming extremely untenable for any government. The Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB) has observed that the pollution level at the coal berth facilities operated by M/s JSW and M/s AMPTPL at Mormugao Port Trust (MPT) exceeds the permissible limit with particulate matter more or less consistently high throughout the year.
PM10 (particulate matter of 10 microns diametre) were consistently high with the highest levels observed at Berth 5A-6A (M/s JSW) – where the MPT has proposed increase in coal handling facility and Berth 7 (M/s AMPTPL- referred to as the Adani terminal).
The GSPCB report is clear that the activities like train emissions, stock piling of coal, coke, woodchips, bauxite, stackers, loading and unloading activities of coal, coke, iron ore dumps, truck movement, ship emissions, are possible contributory sources of pollution
This pollution study has only driven home the consistent approach of citizens and activists that any further expansion of projects in the MPT area will choke and throttle Vasco, unless pollution concerns are clearly mitigated.
During public hearings at Tilak Maidan in Vasco which stretched for days, citizens, social & environmental activists from Mormugao and Salcete claimed that the project proponents made false and misleading claims through draft EIA, on addressing environmental concerns and hence coal berth expansion should not be allowed at MPT.
Informed local citizens of Vasco pointed out that in the EIA report there is no mention about doubling of railway line which would lead to pollution increase with increase in rail movements.
Environment activists also contended that the EIA has not considered the cumulative effect of the current and proposed activity of south-west port along with other activities going on at MPT.
Speakers at the public hearing also charged that the environmental impact of coal transportation by rail has also not been considered.
Another concern was that the water requirements by project proponent is seven lakh kilo litres to spray on coal stacks, which is massive amount for a ground water depleted state like Goa.
At the same time, non-expansion of port operations will definitely have an impact on employment and jobs. The port is also the lifeline of Vasco. The CM has spoken about maintaining balance. But it must be understood that that the need for balance cannot be at the cost of sickness and pollution leading to a sick town. But if environmental concerns are really mitigated and pollution levels are sought to be brought down on a war-footing, the ends of commerce and health care can indeed be balanced.
For now, the acknowledgement that coal transportation through Vasco has polluted the town and any expansion will suffocate Vasco beyond redemption, is important and commendable. And the people of Goa can rightly pat themselves for getting the government to come on the same page as them.
