Team Herald
VASCO: The newly formed citizens group ‘Goa Against Coal’ (GAC) has demanded that the Mormugao Port Trust discourage handling of coal and woodchips and other polluting cargo at Mormugao Port and rather encourage more cruise vessels to support state tourism.
Addressing a press conference in Vasco on Saturday, GAC Convenor Custodio D’Souza said that in past MPT used to handle non-polluting cargo like rice, wheat, sugar etc however instead of encouraging such non-polluting cargo, Mormugao Port stopped such cargo only to expand coal and woodchips operations in port with intension to kill people of Vasco and other neighbouring areas.
“Earlier port used to handle non-polluting cargo like rice, wheat, sugar etc however due to some hidden agenda they stopped such cargo and have shifted focus on dirty cargo like coal and woodchips which has been polluting air as well as water. Also if we look at current year performance by MPT, it reveals that the port this year has handled many cruise vessels and there is scope for more. We, therefore, on behalf of fishermen community demand that MPT should stop handling of coal and woodchips at the port and should encourage more cruise vessels to support state tourism,” D’Souza said.
Objecting to the proposed expansions projects at MPT, GAC member Olencio Simoes said, “GCA condemns the secrete plans of Adani and Jindal and MPT to use Goa as hub for transporting large quantity of coal, with the tacit support of our own government. The Plan to Increase coal handling through Goa from 7.5 million tonnes to 25 million tonnes requires dredging of river Zuari, double track railway line to port. We cannot allow MPT to destroy Goa in the name of development.”
On the occasion, the GAC also appealed to the people of Mormugao taluka and concerned citizens across the State to attend the public hearing on three expansions projects at Mormugao Port. The public hearing will be held on April 26, 27 and 28 at Tilak Maidan in Vasco.
