The South West Port Limited, owned by JSW, has continued to handle coal without complying with the order of the Goa Pollution Control Board. The order prohibiting berthing of ships and clearing of landed coal, was passed on January 8, 2018, but a ship carrying 125,000 tonnes of coking coal was berthed at their berth no.6 on January 9, 2018 at 1242 hrs as per Mormugao Port’s website. The cargo discharge operations are being carried till date. Was the SWPL representative and MPT representative not present for the GSPCB hearing? Were the GSPCB officials not made aware of the ship berthing by some citizens at the GSPCB office at 1245hrs on January 9, 2018 ?
It is also known that the GSPCB has filed a criminal complaint with JMFC, Vasco, against SWPL for handling coal beyond the limits imposed by the GSPCB. Therefore the SWPL is an accused in this matter.
A citizen approached the Vasco Police on January 11 complaining about the violation of the said GSPCB order by the accused company. The Police refused to accept the complaint by saying that they will act only if GSPCB complains against the accused. This is double standards by the Vasco police as whenever music is played at any wedding reception, beyond the time limits, the police acts immediately on any citizen’s complaint.
It is also noted that the accused company filed an appeal in the High Court and matter was heard on January 12.
There was no stay order on the GSPCB’s order or any other permission for the company to berth it’s vessel at their facility on the January 9. The high coal dust pollution reports came first, complaint at JMFC came next and then the order from GSPCB, but the accused company continues to operate with impunity. The company refuses to even pay the lawful cess imposed by the Goa government.
As per the MPT records checked by me, the same accused company is expecting three vessels on January 11 , 13 and 14 carrying a total amount of 2.67 lakh tonnes of coal. The present vessel is expected to complete by January 13. Will the GSPCB continue to look the other way?
