PANJIM: Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB) has
decided to reduce the coal handling capacity of Adani and Jindal – operating at
Mormugao Port Trust – by 25 percent from February onwards.
Coming down heavily on the two major coal handling terminals
as responsible for increasing pollution in Vasco town, GSPCB on Thursday
decided to order Adani Mormugao Port Terminal Private Limited (berth No 7) and
South West Port limited – Jindal (berth No 5 and 6), to reduce their coal
handling capacity by 25 percent till they implement measures to curb coal
pollution in the town.
If you enjoyed reading this article, you can help support our journalism by adding OHeraldo as a preferred source.
Adani had permission to handle 5.2 million metric tons of
coal and JSW 7.2 million metric tons which will now be reduced by a quarter.
Speaking to media persons after the meeting, GSPCB Chairman
Jose Manuel Noronha said the Board, after going through the air pollution data,
wherein the maximum permissible levels were exceeded several times by both
companies, decided to reduce the coal handling capacity.
“The data of October 2015 revealed that PM10 was exceeded
four times and in November 2015 it crossed seven times. This has led to severe
coal pollution in the area,” Noronha said, adding that the measures will
continue until the situation improves in the town.
Noronha said the board will monitor the dust pollution in
February, March and April before reviewing its decision asking the companies to
reduce handling capacities. “We believe, with the reduction in capacity, the
pollution will reduce drastically,” he said.
In a series of directions, the Board has asked Adani to
ensure that trucks be loaded through truck loading system, that the coal stack
be not more than 5mtrs tall, water be sprinkled and coal be covered with
tarpaulin, etc.
Jindal has been directed to ensure that its coal stack is
not more than nine meters tall, the coal is covered with tarpaulin and water is
sprinkled. MPT has been asked to monitor the transportation of coal within the
town, handling of cargo on other berths and to conduct a source appointment
study along with air/wind modeling studies in the air.
All three have been asked to continuously monitor the
ambient air quality of the facility and the surrounding areas.
In December, the Board had issued show cause notices to both
companies for violating pollution norms as mentioned in the Consent to Operate
granted for operational cum handling of coal facilities.
