Team Herald
VASCO: If what the Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar said regarding coal handling turns out to a reality, Vasoites can heave a sigh of relief!
The CM’s statement that his government will ask the Union environment ministry not to allow expansion of coal handling capacity in the state and that he doesn’t want to make the port town a coal hub was received with a “pinch of salt” by a cross section of people of the port town.
The citizens’ group Goa Against Coal (GAC), however, claimed that they would react soon following a discussion.
It may be recalled that Parrikar, on the floor of the House, had said that companies which import coal through the Mormugao port, have been asked to reduce their capacity by 25 per cent for failing to control pollution caused by coal dust.
Reacting to the statement, while some citizens welcomed the decision some, however, alleged that they have lost faith in Parrikar due to his constant U-Turns and hence more than words, he should prove himself with action.
“I appreciate and welcome the statements made by CM and the assurances given on the floor the State Assembly on Wednesday. In his statement, he had advised MPT to stop handling of “powdery materials” at the Port that are the cause of pollution. I am happy that the State Government will convey its objections to MoEF&CC to grant EC to the three expansion projects under consideration until current operations are brought to zero pollution levels,” said Vasco-based Environmental Activist Advocate Savio J F Correia.
He further added, “I would now like the State Government to be more actively involved in the development of Mormugao Port and not to shun from its responsibilities regarding health and well-being of the local population. I would consider Mormugao Port to be an asset and a partner in Goa’s progress in handling clean cargo and cruise vessels; not the certified worst polluter in the State.”
Fishermen leader from Vasco, Simon Pereira who has led several agitations and rallies against coal pollution in the port town said, “This is a gigantic step towards the upliftment of Vasco. I feel that the trouble which Vascokars have been facing since over two decades, will finally come to a logical end as Parrikar has now promised that he will not allow Vasco to be a coal hub. We had witnessed several incidents where coal dust used to settle on the food plate. I feel that Parrikar has acted as an angel for Vasco fishermen community and Vascokars in general,” he said.
Meanwhile reacting sharply, a group of citizens claimed that they have lost faith in Parrikar due to his constant U-turns. “I feel that Parrikar is aware that the recent public hearing over MPT’s expansion plan will go against MPT due to which he wants to take credit by making such statement. It may be also that recently the Supreme Court passed its verdict against the dredging of navigational channel by MPT and this must have prompted Parrikar to make this statement otherwise despite having all powers, why he failed to stop all coal operations at MPT,” said a Vascoite on condition anonymity.
Environment activist Abhijeet Prabhudesai claimed that, “Words are empty and there is no action and thus we cannot believe him (Parrikar) at all. We have made it very clear that the citizens don’t want any coal handling. Being the chief minister of Goa, he’s got Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s support, so why did he fail to stop the coal operations completely? he could have done it in 24 hours if he wanted to. We actually don’t believe in words or promise given by any political leaders. They keep breaking their promises for political gains. When they are in power they say one thing and when they are in the Opposition they change their stance, so it is hard to believe such political statements which might change anytime,” he said.
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MPT will comply with all instructions
Reacting to CM’s statement, the Chairman of MPT, I Jeyakumar, reiterated that MPT has been making all possible efforts in operating under the prescribed standards. Also the authorities would strictly adhere to the directions issued by the government. “We have been taking all precautionary and mitigation measures to keep pollution under control. We have also advised both the terminals that they should comply with the directions issued by the Goa state pollution control board to operate under prescribed standards. The only thing is that the board has communicated that the new readings will be taken from October- November so that these figures reveal the real picture. With regards to reduction of 25 per cent coal handling capacity at MPT, the coal business and especially the thermal coal businesses have come down,” he said.
