VASCO: Welcoming the decision taken by the Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB) to revoke its ‘consent to operate’ granted to South West Port Ltd (SWPL), the Vasco MLA Carlos Almeida on Tuesday claimed that the action by the board sends a clear signal to all the polluting industries in Goa that ‘Don’t play with the lives of people of Vasco and Goans.’
His reaction came after GSPCB on Monday revoked its consent to operate granted to SWPL under the Air and Water Acts with immediate effect as the board found that SWPL had exceeded the limits of its coal handling operations.
“I am very happy that the board has taken such decision and has sent a clear message to erring industries that the government is serious about pollution and would not tolerate it anymore. Also, the action by the Board proves that the Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar actually kept his word and acted strongly against coal handling agency for violating norms,” Almeida said.
He said that he would stand by the people of Vasco to oppose any further expansion of coal handling at MPT.
He also suggested that MPT should now reduce its dependency on hazardous cargo and should focus on clean and green cargo.
“I am totally against any expansion for coal at MPT but at the same time since the port town depending on port activities for survival, the MPT should go for more for clean cargo like container handling. Also there are many industries in Goa that brings their cargo through roads and hence MPT should contact such companies so that their cargo can be brought by sea and port can sustain. Similarly, cruise tourism can be MPT’s economic growth engine as well as a game changer as there is a vast untapped potential. So, MPT should try to work in these directions also,” Almeida said.
