Team Herald

SALIGAO: Members of Goa Pradesh Congress Committee (GPCC) along with the Mormugao Citizens Forum confronted the Chairman of Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB) over the issue of air pollution caused by coal handling and transportation at the Mormugao port.

They handed over a memorandum strongly opposing and objecting to the withdrawal of show-cause notices issued to the coal handlers.

Initially, the Congress workers were stopped from entering the gate, but they were later allowed inside the cabin of the GSPCB Chairman, Ganesh Shetgaonkar, where they threw coal on his table. They threatened to intensify their agitation if no action was initiated and also asked him to resign if he could not take the decision of closing the transportation of coal from MPT.

The Congress workers pointed out that the citizens of Mormugao are gravely affected by the air pollution caused by coal handling and transportation.

“We strongly oppose and object to the discharge of show-cause notices issued to the coal handlers and orders withdrawing suspension of CTO’s (consent to operate) granted to them, and call upon you to reconsider the decision and stop coal handling operations until fool-proof measures in line with international standards are put in place,” the memorandum states.

The delegation has called upon the chairman to re-consider the decision and stop coal handling operations until full proof measures in line with international standards are put in place

The Chairman of GSPCB assured the delegation to look into the demands stated in memorandum and promised to find a solution to the problem.