PANJIM: Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar on Wednesday slammed “some vested interests” who are misguiding the people on the issue of coal handling and emphasised that pollution levels in Vasco has been controlled.
“I have found that vested interests are trying to spread misinformation,” he said, claiming that the report of the Goa State Pollution Control Board indicates that ‘all types of pollution in Vasco’ has reduced significantly.
The air quality monitoring data, he added shows that the pollution level in Vasco never touched the “poor” category. The study was carried out opposite Mormugao Municipal Council and Sada junction. “Let me make one thing clear, the pollution in Vasco is not entirely due to coal. Dust also increases pollution for example vehicles and construction activities. Therefore, GSPCB had set up the air monitoring system where we got a clear data in Vasco,” he said.
He reeled out the data for the months from April stating that pollution in these areas have been brought under control. “We will still try to bring it down. The pollution check covered all types of pollution,” he stated. The air monitoring check consisted of four parameters – Good, Satisfactory, Moderately Polluted and Poor.
The CM reiterated that in August, the government had written to the Union government opposing any expansion at the coal terminal because the existing facility was itself creating pollution. “Government had already taken a decision and written to the centre that it does not need further expansion of the coal terminal because the pollution level was high,” he said.
Parrikar went on to state that the town has a better revenue generating avenue by boosting cruise tourism. “I can give them a better business. Vasco port town is dependent on MPT and the MPT needs business. They got into wrong business which I think a congested city should not have got into but that was in 2005 when I was not the CM.”
