Team Herald
VASCO: Lashing out at the arrival of the first iron ore-laden goods train of Vedanta, from Karnataka for shipping to the Mormugao Port, activists reiterated that these activities are of no benefit to the State and Goans.
Goa remains only a passage or corridor for the benefit of private players is what people’s organisations have repeatedly said.
Reacting to the arrival of the first iron ore consignment from Karnataka to the Mormugao Port, former Environment Minister Alina Saldanha said, “This activity is bound to cause pollution.”
She said, “Iron ore will pollute water bodies. When Karnataka has 12 minor ports and one major port at Mangaluru, why can’t this activity be carried out at these ports and save our dot-sized Goa? Why are they bent on polluting Goa at the cost of people’s health? It will cause all kinds of ailments to people due to pollution.”
Vasco-based Goencho Ekvott founder Orville Dourado Rodrigues said, “It is a disturbing report received by the villagers. Locals residing in the coastal belt are suffering on account of coal pollution caused by coal transportation on the existing single railway track. And now iron ore will be transported on the same track.”
“Don’t we villagers have a right for a peaceful sleep after a day’s work? Why is the Mormugao Port Authority (MPA) not exploring the possibility of transporting finished products like pharmaceuticals? Goencho Ekvott will strongly oppose transportation of all hazardous cargo from coastal villages,” he vowed.
Goa Against Coal convenor Custodio D’Souza said that they will
continue to oppose both, coal handling and export of iron ore from Mormugao Port as it was causing pollution. Chief Minister Pramod Sawant was on record that he would not allow increased coal handling at Mormugao Port.
Social activist Freddy Travasso of Sao Jose de Areal recalled that on November 14, 2020, the Chief Minister had promised the children that he would reduce coal handling at Mormugao Port by 50 percent. During an interaction with children, who called on him to stop pollution caused by coal transportation, the Chief Minister told them that he has a daughter and will not allow enhancement of coal handling at Mormugao port.
“But what did he (CM) do now? He has fooled his own daughter,” said Travasso, who has been fighting against dust pollution caused by a carbon factory in the village.
Xencor Polgi, an activist from Sada pointed out that during a public hearing; they had vehemently opposed the excess coal handling by Mormugao Port Authority (MPA) as it would increase transportation as well as pollution. There are deaths due to coal pollution.
“Our demand is that we don’t want coal handling. We want to stop handling hazardous cargo by MPA,” Polgi said.
Anthony D’Silva, another activist from Assolna said, “Coal handling will cause pollution and put additional burden on the State’s infrastructure. In what way does it benefit Goans? Why are natural resources in the hands of crony capitalists? The same has to be done with each Goan. The enhancement of coal handling will multiply the movement of trucks and the ongoing work of railway double tracking is only to increase coal transportation. Asthma cases are increasing which should be an eye-opener for the authorities concerned.”
RTI activist Damodar Divkar from Sada said that coal is handled negligently, and the government authorities have failed to initiate stringent action against the trucks found overloaded beyond the prescribed limit. These trucks are spilling large amounts of coal dust on the road and people are suffering due to dust pollution.
Goenchea Ramponkarancho Ekvott (GRE) general secretary Olencio Simoes said that it has now been proved that the government and the MPA have fooled the people of Goa. How can iron ore be unloaded on coal handling berth at Mormugao Port? Who gave them permission to unload ore? Berth numbers 8, 9 and barge berth which were used for unloading ore have been dismantled. Today MPA berths are used only for coal handling and they are fooling people by stating that it will be used for ore handling. We will not allow coal expansion plans of MPA and foil it with all might.
GAKUVED Federation general secretary Rupesh Velip said, “We all know that MPT was a project proponent when public hearing was conducted in Vasco in 2017 and now since MPT has become MPA, how is the permission valid now? In the name “Bhivpachi garaz na” we all Goans have been fooled by the Sawant government.”
Activist Rama Kankonkar said that people of Goa are fooled once again by the government by getting all infrastructure ready for enhancement of coal handling and now approving the draft Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) report after six years from the conduct of public hearing in 2017. How EIA can be the same after a gap of six years?
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‘Chief Minister told them that he has a daughter and that he will not allow enhancement of coal handling at Mormugao port’: Anti-coal activist
