VASCO: Photographs of a toddler’s feet covered with coal dust in the Jetty area of Vasco have stormed the social media and put the limelight on the coal dust pollution in the port town.
The toddler’s photographs emerged on the social media raising serious concerns regarding the health of residents of the area.
Dark soot was found to be covering floors, water stored utensils in the houses, but the most disturbing of all was the feet of a toddler covered with black soot of coal dust sending shock waves across to people and elected representatives of Vasco.
Some local activists have been trying to combat this coal dust and its consequences for quite some time. On Friday, the dust rising from the coal could be seen from Sada road. An activist shot the video and it went viral on social media. The video saw angry responses from various areas of Goa.
However, the toddler with blackened feet has caused the most uneasiness for people. The incident was noticed by one of the Mormugao Municipal Council (MMC) Councillors, who took pictures and urged activists to do something in this regard.
Angry locals claim that the coal handling at MPT by Adani has always been a matter of concern for locals. The coal handling at the berth takes place at a mere distance of 50 metres from the residential areas in the Jetty area. With the winds the coal dust makes its way into the houses. The video shows no precautions being taken by the handler at the berth.
“When I saw my daughter’s blackened feet due to coal dust I was taken aback. This is the state of every young child and people from this part of Vasco. It is heart wrenching” said an angry Councillor, Murari Bandekar attached to the BJP. When asked what the ruling council thinks in this regard, he said that he has discussed the issue with Urban Development Minister Milind Naik.
“I have raised the issue with the Minister of Urban Development Milind Naik, who is from the affected area”, he said adding, “We will make sure we hold a meeting with the MPT, Adani, JSW and the Councillors and find a permanent and best way out of this pollution.”
Parshuram Sonurlekar of Goa First said, “We have filed enough complaints regarding this matter to all the authorities, but in vain. For last 15 days, this has been going on and there is no monitoring by the Pollution Control Board whatsoever.”
He said that their protest against coal needs support of the locals at least of the ones, who are affected by it. However, they have not managed to find much support.
Locals opined that a solution to the coal pollution is the need of the hour. All eyes are now on the commitment of the Minister, who has his residence in the affected area to save the people, especially the children from this mess.
