Pratik Parab
pratik@herald-goa.com
Vasco: Why are the sufferers of Coal dust silent? A question probably no one from Vasco or Mormugao has been able to answer convincingly. While political heat gradually increases, the underlying question that troubles the people of Vasco is that why are the families not speaking up.
Savio Correia, a concerned Vasco resident and an important name in the Goa Against Coal agitation speaking on the issue expressed his disgust at the silence by the people affected in the Coal fiasco. He said “The general public is willing to suffer in silence but not speak regarding the problem of coal dust in their houses. General public from the lower strata of the society is worried over the political backlash and hence have let their kids suffer” said Savio.
Several organisations like NGOs and concerned citizens have expressed a great deal of concern regarding the coal dust pollution issue in Vasco. Many have also decided to approach courts to get relief from this menace. All of them have just one demandie of shutting down coal handling operations at the Mormugao port. Many times, employment from the port operations given to the Goans from Mormugao has been one of the shields used to avoid stoppage of coal handling operations at the port. However, many argue the port and especially the berth handling the coal cargo do not have a significant number of Goans working directly or indirectly.
“The people have been suffering breathing problems and other respiratory problems due to the coal dust. Why are you thinking about 500 employees and not thinking about the lakhs of people who are suffering due to the pollution from the coal dust. They are the people who have elected you and you will have to answer the public not the employees” asked Nazir Khan a resident of Vasco and office bearer of NCP Vasco.
“The company while giving CSR also has a responsibility to create awareness and give pollution preventive measures to at least the people were affected directly due to the pollution. But they have done nothing for the people” said Nazir.
“People of Sada don’t want coal as it is affecting the health and wellbeing of the people and especially the children of Sada. Our water containers, galleries, passages of the houses, clothes drying outside are covered with coal dust. But we are worried of the political backlash and revenge hence we keep our comments about this problem anonymous” said an elderly woman from Sada.
Huge passenger ships come to Mormugao Port with international tourists but again the coal pollution prevents a large percentage of the tourists from venturing outside. Fear has been expressed that if the pollution continues, people will be forced to abandon their houses and settle elsewhere due to problems. But the fact is that people are not joining the movement against handling of coal at MPT has been acting like a natural shield for the companies.
Savio Correia on the silence of people said that he is shocked why people are worried to speak up. The perception is that only activists have a problem and the public hearing was an example where only activists turned up and no affected people came ultimately. “Social media platform is a great medium where it is opening up the unspoken truths through the photographs” said Savio. For whom are we living for and whom are we working for. It is our children we are working for and if they are not going to have good health then it’s of no use” said Savio.
Dabolim MLA and Panchayat Minister MauvinGodinho said “Everybody likes solution meditation nobody likes pollution but everything needs to be balanced whether it is protecting environment promoting economic activity or running the port. We need to take a balanced view and can’t have a situation where port is shut down and there is no employment” said Mauvin.
“Best measures available to control pollution available in the world have to be taken up and that is the most important part everybody misses out” said Mauvin. Mauvin has also endorsed the idea of having a closed dome for the operations. “I have been fighting for this issue within the government for last several years and until they solve the problem of pollution due to operations of MPT I am going to continue my fight” said the Panchayat Minister.
Minister Milind Naik had earlier during a chat with Herald said “I am not in favour of pollution and polluting businesses but we have to also think about the fact that mining closure has already created a lot of unemployment and now closing the port will spell doom for the employment scene of Goa. I will pressurize the companies to erect the dome to avoid pollution at both the projects” Milind mentioned.
Milind said that this was brought by the Congress in Goa and has been blaming this present Government. The people were suffering during the Congress regime too and records would confirm this. But show me where are the locals who are suffering? These are all outsiders speaking” he said.
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MORMUGAO CITIZENS URGE GOVERNMENT TO SHUT DOWN COAL HANDLING
Vasco: The Mormugao Citizens today have criticised the Mormugao MLA and Minister Milind Naik for his unwillingness to stop the coal handling operation at the Mormugao Port. They have challenged Milind to prove how many Goans are affected by the stoppage of coal and also asked him to come clean as to whether he wants coal or not. They have urged the BJP to close the coal operations here.
The briefing was addressed by Sankalp Amonkar, Nazir Khan, Jayesh Shetgaonkar, Suraj Chodankar, Sachin Bhagat, Shankar Polji and others.Sankalp Amonkar of Congress has promised the closure of Coal handling at MPT will be in the manifesto of the Congress in the upcoming election. “We will create awareness amongst the people of Mormugao regarding the ills of coal” said Sankalp.
Sankalp said the Congress had shut the operations of MPT twice in the past and also assured to do so if gains power. “All 4 MLAs in Mormugao are of BJP and their Government is in power in state and Centre. They have the machinery and power to take action. They have to do that” said Sankalp.
On the comment of Minister Milind Naik, the citizens said that the statement assuring stopping pollution has been coming every 5 years and but still nothing is being done. When asked why the Pollution control Board doesn’t take action against the complaints Sankalp said “The board is headed by persons appointed by the Govt of Goa and the PCB is being pressured not to take action as Jindal and Adani are their parents” said Sankalp.
Nazir Khan, a Vasco resident said “It is the responsibility of the companies to educate the people who are affected and help them with prevention. When you take donations and sponsorships from them how will you control them?” asked Nazir.
The citizens have assured that they will get all the organisations together to oppose the problem and get on to the roads if necessary.
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GSPCB PETITIONED TO TAKE ACTION AGAINST COAL POLLUTION COMPLAINTS
Vasco: A complaint of coal pollution in Vasco and surrounding areas has reached the Goa State Pollution Control Board. The Goa Pollution Control Board had increased the quantity of coal handling and ever since the problems of the locals of Vasco have increased manifold. While the people have been bearing all the pain there is no end to assurances of curbing pollution from the berths of MPT.
The covering letter of the Police written to the GSPCB has reached the office. The complaint said “All three companies have become masters in breaching environmental laws and no control of any Government is seen stopping their activity” said the complaint filed by Goa First.
“We have lost all faith in the GSPCB as they have failed at several times even after receiving several complaints from various individuals and organisations” said the complainant.
The NGO has urged the GSPCB to push for registration of FIR against the persons named in the complaint given to the police.
