Team Herald
VASCO: The Members of Goa Fishing Boat Owners Association (GFBOA) on Friday raised strong concern over the rise in woodchips dust pollution in and around Khariwado jetty. They claimed that the pollution is due to over stacking and improper handling of woodchips at berth number 11 of Mormugao Port.
According to GFBOA President Augusto Fernandes, the port authorities have leased out portion of berth number 11 to a party to handle woodchips cargo some four years ago and since then they have been facing problems as during strong winds the woodchips create high dust pollution at Khariwado jetty as well as other parts of Vasco city.
“Actually, the problem is due to improper handling of woodchips cargo. I feel that they have not only failed to take precaution while handling the woodchips cargo but have even ignored the compulsory guidelines and directions issued by expert agencies while stacking woodchips cargo which now leads to heavy pollution,” he said.
Fernandes further said that, “It appears that the port authorities have been taking people for granted and have allowed stacking of woodchips cargo even beyond permissible limits, besides that the cargo which had to be covered has been left open and the dust from this cargo has been putting the fishermen working at Khariwado fishing jetty into severe hardship. Today our staff can’t even cook or eat food onboard trawlers due to high dust pollution.”
Another fishermen and trawler owner Jerry Fernandes said, “This pollution is not a new thing as we have been facing this since last few years and instead of any improvement, the situation has actually turned worse. They only need to cover the woodchips cargo properly with tarpaulin sheets so that the same does not create pollution whenever wind blows towards the city side; however, all such aspects have been ignored,” he said adding, “Today our workers often face hardships as fine woodchips dust get into their eye, especially when the wind blows towards jetty.”
GFBOA prominent member and trawler owner Simon Pereira said, “Woodchips have got wood dust and when they do loading, naturally wood dust is created because strong north winds in the month of January to March blows and this adds to the existing dust pollution. People are not against the trade but they are against the way the trade is carried out. If these woodchips are handled under covered sheds then such situation would not arise. We only request MPT to take a call on this issue and provide us relief.”
