Residents of Mor mugao taluka on Monday intensified their demand for the immediate halt of coal handling and trans portation at the Mormugao Port Authority. Addressing the media at Azad Maidan in Panjim, res idents accused authorities of allowing coal operations to continue unchecked de spite years of complaints about severe dust pollution, declining air quality, and mounting health problems in port-adjacent localities. Former Mormugao Mu nicipal Council chairperson Sharad ‘Nitin’ Chopdekar launched a direct attack on the administration’s han dling of the issue. “We don’t want coal han dling at the Mormugao Port because they cannot han dle it. The authorities have failed to manage it with out causing environmental damage,” said Chopdekar.
“There has been a tremendous increase in dust pollution, leading to respiratory illnesses, allergies, other health com plications among residents, and a decline in air quality,” he added. Chopdekar also referred to the recent protest by Mor mugao MLA Sankalp Amonkar, noting that the three-day ul timatum issued by the MLA has expired without any visible action to stop coal handling. He questioned why the protest was staged outside a company gate rather than taking firm er steps within the government framework, implying that symbolic gestures have replaced decisive governance. Residents from the Jetty area described daily exposure to coal dust as a lived reality rather than an abstract environ mental concern. Sarvesh Hoble painted a stark picture of the conditions faced by families living in close proximity to the port’s coal-handling facilities. “Coal dust particles regularly settle on food and contam inate stored water, posing serious environmental and health risks. Water sources in the area are polluted, and residents are also facing water scarcity.” Describing the dust as a ‘slow poison’, he attributed per sonal tragedy to prolonged exposure. “The dust pollution has become a slow poison. My father and brother died due to side effects caused by dust pollution.” Activist Xencor Polgi from Headland-Sada alleged that the impact extends far beyond the immediate port vicinity, tracing a corridor of pollution along the railway line that carries coal inland. “There is dust pollution along the entire railway track from Mormugao Port up to Velsao and Cansaulim. Low-quality coal is handled at the Mormugao Port and transported to steel plants in Karnataka. Why can’t these companies use other ports?” Polgi further claimed that residents have reported nau sea and vomiting linked to the foul odour of coal dust. He also expressed surprise that the Mormugao MLA, who had previously joined agitations against coal handling, has not taken decisive follow-up action after issuing the ultimatum. Other residents, including Sachin Bhagat and Shivprasad Mahale, demanded immediate government intervention, stricter enforcement of pollution control norms, and ur gent measures to safeguard public health. The gathering reiterated that assurances are no longer sufficient and called for a complete halt to coal handling at the port, urg ing authorities to shift to alternative cargo operations. Residents signalled that their agitation will intensify if the coal dust — which they describe as relentless and suffocat ing — continues to blanket their homes.
