MARGAO: The Goa Aviation Service Facility, Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited in Mormugao Co op. Ind Estate, Airport Road, Chicalim, has applied for NOC for the storage and operation of 2,00,000 litres of Aviation Turbine Fuel in their premises along with unloading and loading of the Aviation Turbine Fuel through petroleum road tankers and aircraft refuellers.
The last day for the public to submit their objections is September 7.
Locals residing around the area are not happy with the proposal.
Francisco Nunes, a resident of Chicalim informed Herald that many residential complexes have come up in the area around the depots.
“There are two schools in the vicinity and another one is set to come up. They shouldn’t be increasing the storage capacity since there is already a danger with the existing depots. They have to set up new storage sites away from residential areas”, he said.
“We will object to it. We will collect signatures to oppose it since it is a residential area and it may trigger a major disaster. Already we have seen what happened in Chembur and ammonia truck accident that occurred recently along the airport road”, said Edwin Mascarenhas, activist and Chicalim resident.
There are already four companies in the Mormugao Industrial area having their depots which supply Aviation Turbine Fuel to Dabolim Airport.
Every day, more than 200 trucks travel to and from the industrial estate carrying Aviation Turbine Fuel.
Although when the industrial estate was set up long before there were locals residing around, the poor planning of the Mormugao Planning and Development Authority has led to several residential complexes mushrooming around the depots.
