Team Herald
PANJIM: The High Court of Bombay at Goa observed that the Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB) has given South West Port Ltd (SWPL) a short period to reply to the show cause notice on handling excess amount of 5.98 million metric tonnes of coal at Mormugao Port Trust (MPT) for the year 2016-17. GSPCB had issued the notice on November 30 for gross violation of the conditions stipulated in Consent to Operate that was answerable by December 6.
SWPL approached the HC contending that the time given by the board is not enough to compile a year’s data in four days stating there were three days continuous holidays following the notice.
“If any order is passed against the petitioner (SWPL) by the respondent Board, it shall not be given effect till the next date assigned to this petition,” the court order stated in view of board’s meeting that is scheduled on Thursday. The Court will hear the matter again on December 13.
The Board in the notice had warned of taking stringent legal action, including revocation of the renewed Consent to Operate granted under Air and Water Act on July 21, 2017, forfeiting Rs five lakh bank guarantee along with directions for suspension or closure of all the cargo handling operations at Berth No 5A and 6A.
The Board pointed out that in the Consent to Operate was to handle 4.125 MMT of coal, one MMT of limestone and steel slab annually. However, data submitted by MPT revealed that SWPL handled 10.112 MMT of coal for the year, in violation of the consent.
The Court also observed that despite the board being aware July this year, it send the notice at end of November giving the company a short time.
