PANJIM: Pending finalisation of report on Source Apportionment study of Vasco town by IIT Bombay, the Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB) has declined to grant M/s South West Port Limited (SWPL) any relaxation on monthly coal handling capacity, within overall permissible quantity of 5.5 million metric tonnes per annum (MMTPA).
The Board has scheduled a special meeting on December 30, to finalise the report on Source Apportionment study for air quality of Vasco, submitted by Prof Virendra Sethi, Environment Science and Engineering Department of IIT Bombay.
During its meeting held on December 21, the Board deliberated on the request from the SWPL for variation in the monthly handling quantity. The unit had submitted that during the monsoon season, they are permitted to handle 2.3 Metric tonnes (MT) with 0.575 metric tonnes per month (MTPM) without any variations.
However, during the fair season from October to May, they are allowed to handle 0.4 MTMP with 10 per cent variations, upto 0.44 MMTPM, maintaining the total annual handling to 5.5 MMTPA.
The SWPL, in their application, stated that the ambient air quality is maintained within limits and also IIT has not yet submitted any adverse observations on coal handling.
“The Unit has requested uniform monthly distribution of handling with 0.458 MMTPM with 5 per cent variations on monthly handling throughout the year maintaining the total annual handling to 5.5 MMTPA,” said the Board.
The Member Secretary informed that the IIT report has been received and decided to deliberate on the issue after finalisation of the report. The Board had earlier declined adjustment permission to the Unit to handle an additional 2.3 million metric tonnes (MMT) of coal during the non-monsoon season.
The Board also decided to defer the request from the Mormugao Port Trust (MPT) for permission for coal handling at mooring Dolphin — 1, 2 and 3.
