VASCO: The Mormugao Port Trust (MPT) has always made tall claims that the port authorities have given standing instructions to both the coal handling agencies operating from the port that the cargo should be properly covered before leaving the port area.
The grim and dangerous reality is that almost all moving coal wagons from MPT not only have gaps in the tarpaulin cover but many of these tarpaulin covers are torn, which in turn leads to spillage and pollution all along the railway route, thereby putting at risk all those living in the vicinity of the railway tracks.
At about 11.30 am on Tuesday, January 4, Herald noticed one such coal loaded wagon. Shockingly, out of total 57 rakes, 35 rakes had torn tarpaulin covers, from where coal was splilling or had the potential to spill all over racks
Herald then decided to share the information and picture with some anti coal activists who termed MPT and coal handling agencies as chronic defaulters. “The coal handlers at Mormugao Port are chronic defaulters when it comes to containing coal dust pollution. Fugitive dust from inadequately covered rakes poses a serious health hazard to people living along the 600-km track to Hospet. Coal chunks on and beside the track are a common sight. The situation is bound to worsen after the second track becomes operational. Herald has been constantly exposing this gross negligence time and again. MPT, Railways, and the coal handlers are playing “passing-the-parcel” with Goemkars, each passing the responsibility to the other. They have collectively proved to be incompetent and sloppy,” said Sherwyn Correia, a Law Student and environmental activist.
After seeing recent pictures of gaps in tarpaulin cover over the rakes and torn covers, Cyril Fernandes, social activist from Vasco, said, “We consider these coal wagons as ‘moving tarpaulin-covered graves’ and that is why we don’t want any coal in Goa. The way they are still transporting coal with such gaps in the covering and with torn covers is condemnable and the attitude of Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB) is more questionable,” Fernandes said
Orville Dourado Rodrigues, Founder Member Goencho Ekvott slammed railways, port and coal handling agencies over lax attitude of authorities concerned in controlling coal pollution.
“South Western Railway, MPT and Coal handling agencies are flouting all rules regarding transportation of Coal on the Vasco-da-Gama to Castle rock route. One can notice that all rakes though covered with flimsy tarpaulin, are overloaded with heaped coal which falls on the wayside, polluting the countryside which is causing severe respiratory problems to the residents on both sides of the tracks. With rakes speeding at over 100 kmp/h one can visualise the amount of fugitive coal dust that is polluting the atmosphere and being sucked directly into our blood stream. Who is to be held responsible for this slow poisoning of our people?” Rodrigues questioned
Where are the environment engineers of MPT?
MPT has even appointed environment engineers who are moving around to check all such issues with regards to the proper covering of coal cargo.
The Deputy Chairman of MPT was taken aback when Herald showed him the pictures of torn tarpaulin covers on rakes and promised action (see box). Herald has reminded him that it will continue to keep watch to see if corrective actions are taken and the results are visible.
