TEAM HERALD
PANJIM: Following allegations that the coal dust pollution in Vasco within the coal handling unit of Adani and Jindal South West Port Ltd (JSW) and surrounding areas has increased drastically, the Goa State Pollution Control Board has decided to install ambient air quality monitoring station in the port town to measure the pollution. A large number of people from Headland Sada and Jetty area had complained of the pollution with even Mormugao Municipal councillors taking up the issue.
The decision was taken during the joint meeting held between government officials and representatives of both units, on Tuesday afternoon, at the Secretariat, at Porvorim. Both the coal handling units made a presentation claiming that a series of measures had been initiated by them to curb the coal dust pollution in the area.
The meeting was attended by Power Minister Milind Naik, Environment Minister Alina Saldanha, Goa State Pollution Control Board member secretary Levinson Martins and Chairman Jose Manuel Noronha along with other officials. The affected citizens from Vasco who had complained about constant coal dust pollution in the area, leading to environment and health problems also attended the meeting.
Briefing Herald after the meeting, Noronha said that during the site inspection of the coal-handling plant and the coal stacks in December, directions were issued to both the units to install the necessary air pollution monitoring units and to ensure that all measures are installed to curb dust pollution. The units were asked to make representation in this regard thereafter, he said.
“Accordingly, the Board has decided to install a few more ambient air quality monitoring stations in Vasco, wherever obvious dust pollution is reported,” Noronha said, adding that the Board has already installed two air quality monitoring stations in Vasco, while Adani and JSW have installed two such stations each. The Board has been granted six weeks time to install the monitoring stations.
