Goemkarponn desk
PORVORIM: Chief Minister Pramod Sawant informed the house that the Mormugao Port Trust (MPT) handled 49.16 million tonnes of coal from the year 2017 to May 2022.
“The Goa State Pollution Control Board has not received any application from the MPT seeking an increase in the coal handling capacity at the Port,” said CM Sawant.
He further said that the GSPCB is not aware that the people in areas surrounding the Port are suffering from various serious ailments on account of the pollution caused by coal handling.
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 the locations is mostly Satisfactory to Good. Additionally, the GSPCB has imposed the following conditions in the consent to operate for coal handling units located in the Port area,” he informed
Sawant said that units shall ensure that the during loading/unloading operation of dry bulk cargo, a 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 particle carried away with the wind and that the cargo will be dropped from the lowest possible height within the hatches of ship/barges which will help to control the air pollution if any within the permissible limits.
“The unit has to carry out water sediment monitoring from Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change approved laboratory near the mooring dolphin during coal/coke handling and data to be submitted to Board,” he informed
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