the Chairman of Mormugao Port Trust (MPT) I Jeyakumar claimed that MPT has already taken up elaborate steps to control coal pollution.
He claimed that the MPT has hired a retired pollution control board member as a consultant to look after exclusively pollution control. Besides, he said, the MPT has also created an environment cell using its own manpower from civil engineering department, which, he said, would work in coordination with Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB) and the collected real time data on pollution would be shared between them.
Jeyakumar was speaking to reporters after distributing fruits to the patients at Cottage Hospital of Chicalim as part of Corporate Social responsibility on the occasion of 67th Republic Day celebration by MPT.
“Vasco is a port based city and the port is an integral part of Vasco, which has developed due to port. Similarly, the society should support us and we assure that we will not do anything to disturb the people,” he said.
“In future, our own officers will be trained and they will then start the work under newly constituted green cell,” he said adding, “with regards to monitoring of pollution, we have decided to augment the existing pollution monitoring equipments in consultation with GSPCB and all the data will be shared as a joint study and that too in real time. Similarly, both the coal handling companies have been advised to maintain maximum international standards while handling coal. Surely in next six months, people of Vasco will automatically understand what measures we have taken to avoid coal pollution.”
Commenting on the efforts taken by the MPT to introduce new cargo at the Mormugao Port, Jeyakumar said “there is less demand for ore internationally thus we are now encouraging different type of cargo including coal, container, and other liquid cargo like LNG, edible oil. Even in the new terminal which is coming up, we are going to have multi-cargo and all operations will be done under prescribed stringent pollution control standards on par with international standards,” he clarified.
On traffic congestion and pollution due to spillage from trucks, he said, “I understand that there are some issues which we are deliberating with the transporters by asking them to cover the cargo properly to avoid any spillage on the roads. The other issue of traffic congestion will be resolved once the last leg of four lane road is completed. I am sure that in 36 months the four lane road will be completed and this issue would be resolved completely,” he said.
Meanwhile, speaking on the recent decision taken by Mormugao Municipal Council to stop coal and bauxite transportation, he said, “the MMC is right as per their decision is concerned. We will respond appropriately. Now we have explained to GSPCB that we have taken necessary steps.”
