PANJIM: The Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB) and the Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority (GCZMA) has granted its consent to Jindal South West (JSW) to construct a dome structure at the Mormugao Port
Authority (MPA) area to stack all the coal handled by the firm as a measure to curb pollution.
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The JSW is set to invest Rs 180 crore to construct the facility, which is likely
to be completed within nine to ten months.
Currently, JSW owned South West Port Pvt Ltd (SWPL) handles 5.5 million metric tonnes of coal per annum at Berth Nos 5A and 6A, while Adani Mormugao Port Terminal Pvt Ltd (AMPTPL) has got consent for berth No 7 to handle 5.2 million metric tonnes of coal annually.
Speaking to O Heraldo, GSPCB chairman Mahesh Patil said that Board has recently granted Consent to Establish under Air and Water (prevention and control of pollution) Act to JSW to construct the dome within its premise. “It is totally a pollution control measure. Once the facility comes up, all the coal and other cargo handled by the firm will be stacked inside the dome,” he said.
He said that as per the projection, the project will be completed within nine to ten months. “The work may not commence during the monsoon. It will take
off only from October,” he informed.
Patil said that once the facility is established, the Board will then inspect it and accordingly issue Consent to Operate. He said that GCZMA has already granted them CRZ clearance.
The terminal, which had opened in 2004, was subsequently authorised to handle an annual import of 5.5 million tonnes of coal. However, the firm was asked to suspend the activities for sometime after they were found to have handled more than 10 million tones of coal, which was beyond permissible limit.
Also, coal handling activity came under the scanner following complaints from locals with regards to dust pollution and the PM10 was also found beyond the limit.
Recently, MPA Chairman Dr N Vinodkumar had told media persons that MPA would be taking measures with an aim to curb pollution and stress on renewable energy.
“The JSW company will invest Rs 180 crore to build a dome-shaped structure and this will be done on a PPP basis. The works are likely to be completed by 2025. This is a measure to ensure there is no pollution,” he had said.
