PANJIM: The High Court of Bombay at Goa pulled up Mormugao Port Trust and a chemical manufacturing firm for storing naphtha in tanks without consent to operate from Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB). The court also expressed reservations over the intentions to shift the naphtha-laden tank via road, apprehending safety of the people.
The division bench comprising Justice M S Sonak and Justice M S Jawalkar was informed that the validity to Ganesh Benzoplast had expired on November 30, 2019 and as per the agreement, it had to apply for renewal two months prior to the expiry of the validation, which the company failed to do. Ganesh Benzoplast moved an application for renewal on November 6, 2019 and pending approval, it carried out the process of storing naphtha in its tanks.
“The absence of valid consent to operate, the respondent number 2 (Ganesh Benzoplast) should not have taken up this storage of naphtha in its tanks,” the court observed. The bench, keeping in mind the seriousness of the issue, has asked GSPCB to process the application for renewal at the earliest while directing that the responsibility for the safety of tanks lies with the company in the first instance and MPT in the second instance.
During the hearing on a petition pertaining to the matter, the court stated it was shocked over the last minute action by the concerned agencies. “The firm is holding gun on the head of the entire society,” it observed. Prima facie, the court observed that the entire incident was tailored to see that naphtha was stored here and secondly taken by road. But the court opined that the sea route would be safer option.
Nevertheless the bench said, “It was a major disaster which was averted. The salvaging (of the vessel) was well done.”
With naphtha tanks already stocked at MPT, the High Court has directed MPT safety officer Sunil Kumar to monitor the safety measures and report updates to GSPCB and the Collector every alternate day.
On the shifting of the tanks, Advocate General Devidas Pangam supported that the process be carried out by sea, but with no response from the bidders, MPT assured the High Court that a fresh tender will be advertised on Thursday seeking bidders to transport naphtha via sea. The court was also of the opinion that the naphtha tanks be transported to their destination point via sea. The matter has been adjourned for next hearing on January 6.
MPT also stated that they will look for alternative methods of transpotation in consultation with the State government if no suitable bidder is found.
