GSPCB has no clue of PEOPLE’s SUFFERING due to COAL HANDLING

Goemkarponn desk
PORVORIM: The Goa State Pollution Control Board is unaware that the people in areas surrounding the Port are suffering from various serious ailments because of the pollution caused by coal handling.
This was stated in a written reply by Chief Minister Dr Pramod Sawant, referring to the question tabled by former CM Digambar Kamat.
However, the GSPCB monitors the AIR Quality in areas surrounding the Port at two locations, i.e. MPT Quarters, Baina and Fuse Call Office, Vasco. The Air Quality Index (AQI) indicates that the air quality at both locations is mostly Satisfactory to Good. Additionally, the GSPCB says it has imposed the following conditions in the consent to operate for coal handling units located in the Port area:
While issuing renewal for handling coal/coke, the Board say it had distributed the quantities to be handled during the monsoon period.
The Board had issued consent to MPT by including the following specific conditions;
a. The Unit shall ensure that machinery and equipment operated for the handling of cargo shall be done by skilled persons so that cargo spillage is avoided and generally the ship gears only are used for cargo.
b. The Unit shall ensure that the cargo is fully covered during transportation through barges.
c. Unit shall ensure that during loading/unloading operation of dry bulk cargo, necessary dust suppression system to the extent feasible would be taken up on barges to make the cargo wet so as to reduce the flow of particles carried away with the wind. The cargo will be dropped from the lowest possible height within the hatches of ships/barges, which will help to control the air pollution, if any, within the permissible limits.
d. The facility should obtain Environmental Clearance for the mooring dolphins 4, 5 and 6.
e. Cargo handling operations can be carried out at wind velocities up to 8m/s. And all materials handling operations should be stopped at wind speed beyond 8m/s.
f. Operation at Mooring Dolphin may be carried out at either Mooring Dolphin3 or Mooring Dolphin2 to ensure that particles do not reach the city due to dispersion.
g. Cargo handling operations can be carried out at the release height of the material between 2m to 3m.
h. Moisture content of the material should be kept on a higher (minimum 10%) side to ensure suppression of particles.
i. Water sprinkling and mist cannon have to be used to control dust pollution.
j. The Unit shall provide a tarpaulin sheet in between the vessel and barge to prevent spillage in the sea.
k. The Unit has to carry out Ambient Air Quality Monitoring from the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change approved laboratory at MPT premises, Sada area and Khariwada area during cola/coke handling and data have to be submitted to the Board.
l. The Unit has to carry out water-sediment monitoring from the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change approved laboratory near the mooring dolphin during coal/coke handling and submit data to the Board.
m. If cargo is dispatched by Wagons, then all the wagons should be properly covered by Tarpaulin & tied neatly to avoid spillage during transport. The Unit should also study the aspects of having a mechanized system for closing the wagons and submit an action plan for the same.
n. Unit has to install additional stationary water sprinklers near the wagon loading area and should be operated during loading and unloading operations.
o. MPT should share the weather forecast data with the handlers at the Port immediately on receipt.
p. Cargo-related operations at the MPT berths are permitted up to a wind speed of 30 km. / hr. with the strict-adherence to the following conditions:
Normal operations permitted up to a wind speed of 28 km./hr. (i.e. Beaufort scale – 04).
Precautionary measures should be in place with proportionate scaling-down Operations when the wind speed exceeds 28 km/hr. (i.e. Beaufort scale – 05)
All operations should stop at a wind speed of 30 km./hr. Except for break bulk cargo and liquid cargo.
Unit should intensify Water sprinkling at 25 Km/h wind speed.

q. The Unit shall install vertical garden and maintain the same wherever possible within the Port and periphery.
r. MPT has to provide additional water tankers and water sprinklers for dust suppression. MPT has to provide additional staff for controlling dust suppression. Water sprinkling has to be carried out throughout all the three shift and each area of handling.
s. Dedicated track along the stacking plot has to be made/demarcated along with stacking plot area to control the truck movement and avoid haphazard /random movement.
t. Stationary water sprinklers installed within port area have to be made operational for effective water sprinkling and dust suppression.
u. Dust sweeping machine has to be operated on entire paved area of the berth no.10/11, internal road and berth/jetty area. Additional dust sweeping machine has to be procured and to be operated in all three shifts. Also, additional manpower has to be deputed for road sweeping/cleaning within the port area.
v. Wind breaker wall of 12 meters has to be maintained near the fishing jetty towards the city side.
w. Hoppers have be provided at the berth/jetty to load the trucks or provide mechanism to stop multiple handling of ore. Also mechanized loading and unloading system to be installed for unloading of cargo directly into stacking plot area.
x. Unit has to ensure that the online CAAQMS system is calibrated, operated continuously and connected to Boards server. y. Unit has to install standby wind monitoring system at the berth area. z. Road cleaning/sweeping activity outside the premise in the transportation route in city has to be carried out on daily basis. Additionally, as per the recommendations of Source Apportionment study carried out by the IIT, the Board has directed the Mormugao Port Trust to comply with the requirements of the particulate Source apportionment study. Copy of the same is attached as Annexure-B.