VASCO: The members voted of Rojgar Bachav Abhiyan on Tuesday
submitted a memorandum to Deputy Collector Mormugao Mahadev Araundekar
highlighting the plight of people dependent on Port operations and demanding to
restore the consent to operate Coal at berth No.5A&6A of Mormugao Port
Trust by Goa State Pollution Control
Board.
“We wish to bring to your kind notice our serious
grievance, which if left unattended and if not addressed in the right
perspective in time, would not only affect the livelihood of several
government, public and private employees but also lead to closure of several
offices, industries and disrupt the economic standing of the state of Goa”
memorandum states.
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“Goa State Pollution Control Board has, besides
withdrawing the consent to operate issued to South West Port Limited, has
further rejected the application for consent to operate filed by MPT to handle
cargo at the mooring dolphins and prescribed a quantity ceiling for handling
cargo and berth no. 10 and 11. Whereas the Port and its service providers are
fully duty bound and committed to comply with any statutory requirements and
prescriptions for the containment of pollution, GSPCB has not taken cognizance
to stress on that relevant aspect and also not taken into consideration the
fact that these establishments are providing employment opportunities as well as
revenue in form of port dues, customs dues, railway freight, electricity &
water dues and such other charges to the state and the government
agencies. Goa State Pollution Control
Board has also ignored the statutory authority of the Port under the Major Port
Trusts Act, 1963 to service the maritime trade and GSPCB has arbitrarily fixed
a ceiling for the quantity that can be handled at the port. As a result of this
prejudiced action of GSPCB, once the ceiling limit prescribed by GSPCB is
crossed, MPT would not be able to handle cargo beyond the quantity ceiling,
leading to a situation where the Port would be rendered unable to handle even
the vessels carrying essential commodities like fertilizers for farmers, petrol
and diesel meant for the local consumption as well as to service the
airline/tourism industry. This could in turn affect the local business and
tourism industry besides causing serious public unrest,” memorandum added.
“Unmindful of the far reaching ramifications of
constricting the statutory functions of the Port, GSPCB has stymied the growth
and development of the Port whereas it should have prescribed corrective
actions for pollution containment. While, the ambient data of pollution checks
at Vasco are far lower than that of Panjim and Margao, GSPCB has only
contributed in misinformation campaign by referring to source data for which
the Central Pollution Control Board has not set any standards. The pollution
level in Vasco as per the Goa State Pollution Control Board is far less than
the cities like Mapusa, Panjim, Margao etc. In fact in terms of pollution,
Vasco is at the 11th position. Mormugao
Port Trust (MPT) is in operations since the year 1885 and for last 135 years
has been serving the maritime trade and in turn the economic interests of the
state of Goa. The city of Vasco has virtually grown around and over it, and
over years, MPT has made significant contributionsto the economy of Goa and
India”.
“Mormugao Port is the single largest employer in Goa
providing direct and indirect employment to people from every nook and corner
of Goa. Besides this, by facilitating EXIM trade, MPT acts as the single
largest hub of economic activity in Goa, where roughly 20% to 25% activities
contributing to state’s GDP takes place. Mining and tourism industry, the
principal business of Goa, depends largely on the facilities being provided by
the Port. This Port handles different cargoes and silently serves the community
at large specially the community from Vasco, Mormugao and adjoining areas. This
Port is a source of livelihood to more than 2 lakhs families. MPT is a
statutory organization constituted under Major Port Trusts Act, 1963 to serve
the maritime interest of the state of Goa and the adjoining states. It stands
committed to enforce and comply with the requirements of all statutory
regulations. The other statutory government agencies are expected to provide
proactive support and advice for the effective functioning of the engine of
economic growth otherwise the people of Goa will suffer for want of any
constructive economic activity in the state. The core activities of this Port
was exporting Iron Ore. However in the year 2012, the state economy was hit and
the business community had to incur huge losses and loss of employment due to
the ban on iron ore mining and export. Many establishments dependent directly
or indirectly on MPT suffered huge financial losses and loss of business. Many
barges can be seen rusting in the rivers across the state and the mining
industry of Goa has lost its position in the international market,”
memorandum stated.
“It is also relevant to add that the District
Administration and state Government machinery should investigate the role of
the NGOs and people spreading misinformation campaign against the Port. These
appear to be vested interests and their source of funding also needs to be
investigated. During the public hearing for a Port project, a lot of foreign
nationals were seen actively participating leading to doubt the credentials of
the sudden environmental activism which we feel is only intended to destabilize
the economy of our state and India as a whole. Today, we are again faced with
the similar situation as the survival of the Port is at threat and unless the
consent to operate is restored by the Pollution Control Board the Port and the
entire business and local community would collapse. The Port was expected to
incur a loss of about Rupees 61 crores during the year 2017-18. However, owing
to stoppage of Coal Handling, the estimated losses would be around Rupees 100
crores, thus adversely affecting payment of wages to employees and pension to
pensioners. The Port has around 1765 employees and 4230 pensioners which
including family members would be approximately around 18000 dependents. The total financial implication towards
salaries and pension is to the tune of Rs.250 crores per annum. Due to the
above position faced by the Port as an austerity measures port has issued a
circular pursuant to suspension of coal handling activities at berth No. 6
curtailing salary and other benefits of the employees. Goa Port and Dock
Employees Union, Mormugao Port & Railway Workers Mormugao Port Officer
Association and Port Pensioners association urges the Govt. of Goa, Goa State
Pollution Control Board and other connected agencies not to penalize the Port
workers, Port Users and its dependents including pensioners on the pretext of
pollution. Port and the trading community of the Port have been proactive and
have taken all the possible measures to control pollution. The Port has all the
infrastructure facilities installed on this terminal which is of international
standards. In fact there is no pollution caused due to handling of coal and the
reading of the equipment installed for monitoring ambient air quality justifies
it. We seek your immediate personal intervention in the matter and in
alleviating our concerns as it affects our livelihood and very existence”.
