Team Herald
PORVORIM: Environment Minister Nilesh Cabral assured the House to write to the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MOEF&CC) asking them not to grant permission to Mormugao Port Trust (MPT) to handle coal and coke at its berth No 8 and 9, which have been proposed for redevelopment while allowing capital deepening of navigational channels and turning circles of the port.
Cabral added that he would seek an undertaking from MPT, that the purpose of capital deepening of navigational channels would not be transportation of coal but all other cargo only including iron ore. “I will write to the Union Ministry as well as to MPT not to handle coal at berth No 8 and 9. The government is also committed to ensure that people are not affected by pollution,” he said.
Cabral further stated that IIT Bombay is conducting the ‘Source apportionment’ study, which will identify and quantify the sources of pollution in Vasco.
His assurance came after Congress MLA Reginaldo Lourenco pointed out that the project will benefit the handling of coal being carried out at berth No.6 M/s South West Port Ltd and M/s Adani Mormugao Port Limited at Berth No.7 as well as other berth open within permit limit.
He recalled that on his demand, former CM (late) Manohar Parrikar had written a letter to MOEF&CC to reconsider its decision to grant consent for expansion of MPTs coal handling capacity at berth No 5A and 6. “However, then CM, failed to mention, capital dredging and berth No 8 and 9 in its letter,” he said.
Lourenco said the govt itself has admitted that coal handling at MPT had led to pollution in the Vasco town. Pointing to a reply given by the Health Minister in a question, the MLA added that 4500 respiratory cases have been detected in Mormugao. “The government needs to be very serious as far as coal pollution is concerned,” he said.
In a written reply, Cabral said that the proposal for capital/deepening of Navigation Channels is for the purpose of enabling to handle capsise carriers which would provide economy of scale vis-à-vis a Panamax vessel, which provide sufficient draft for handling capsize cargo vessel into the port. “The project is expected improve on port efficiency,” he said.
