Herald: How serious is MPT when it comes to polluting the port town and what attempts have been made by MPT to bring it under control?
I Jeyakumar: After I joined MPT as its chairman, I realized that the port needs to run on E square Formula. That is Environment and Evacuation of cargo. With this in mind, I had created an environmental cell under the engineering department and had appointed experts besides two environmental engineers to monitor the operations as well as to coordinate with pollution control board, public hearing for projects etc. with regards to pollution mitigation measures. Also we had procured two mist canals that would spray water on coal cargo, including coal as well as woodchips. We also thought of not having open pits port open, instead we wanted concrete or paver blocks. However, we also wanted some green cover. Similarly, we had already decided to procure Rs 2 crores worth monitoring equipment that would be used for monitoring pollution at source and at all four zones identified by us. We were also planning plantation with forest department.
Herald: Why is it that people of the port town complain about the pollution being spewed out from the port area and why doesn’t MPT, on its own, adopt measures to provide relief to the port town citizens?
I Jeyakumar: We are making every effort to control the pollution levels. Sometimes it is due to high wind velocity there are possibilities that dust may escape from port especially while handling woodchips at berth number 10 and 11. To control pollution, I have issued directions to the woodchips handling agencies to use stringent mechanism, including spraying of water over the cargo, fast evacuation of cargo from port, otherwise don’t handle such cargo here. Because of one or two small cargo creating pollution, the port should not suffer in a long term prospective. Though they have been covering woodchips cargo, besides spraying water over it, but still I am not satisfied and feel that we have to do much more. With regards to stack height, I have told them to increase the number of trucks for fast evacuation especially during night hours. Similar directions have been issued to coal handling agencies to increase the number of trucks during night hours so that public should not be affected. From 10 pm to 6 am, transportation of cargo is the best time. To encourage the handling agencies for using night hours, we have been giving concession of Re 1 per tonne of cargo if they clear the cargo during night. If required we will increase night concession in future.
Herald: Why isn’t MPT contemplating to handle green cargo and why hazardous cargo operations are not taking place under close shed?
I Jeyakumar: In the long run, we want to handle more and more green and non-polluting cargo at the port. With same intention, we have shifted our focus to handle steel, containers and granite at port. Even for gypsum cargo we have asked the agency that they have to bring the cargo in jumbo bags. Slowly we will be moving predominately into steel, granite and containers, besides liquid cargo. With regards to shed facility, in the new terminal that we have awarded to Vedanta, we have mandated that they have to put a shed. Whatever is already under operations, providing shed would be difficult.
Herald: Your message to port town citizens, considering the fact that Mormugao port has been under scanner for pollution.
I Jeyakumar: Port and city development go hand-in-hand. We have to live together, only thing is port should not ignore the city. Once we ignore the city, this problem arises. So we understand that being a government entity, we have a responsibility. We will see to it that pollution is under control and MPT will ensure that citizens live pollution free life.
