Pollution board gets tough with coal handlers

PANAJI: Days after chief minister Manohar Parrikar promised the House to monitor pollution levels after the assembly unanimously passed a resolution against coal pollution, the Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB) took a decision to request coal handlers to install metallic covers on wagons to ensure that there is no spillage of coal during transportation.
The issue of pollution caused during coal transportation by wagons was discussed at the board meeting on Wednesday.

Currently, coal is transported from Mormugao port by train in wagons covered with tarpaulin sheets, which don't fully serve the purpose.

At the meeting, it was decided that coal handlers should take extra measures so that coal pollution is reduced drastically. Companies handling coal have been asked to use mild steel covers, an official said, adding that the cost for the same will have to be borne by the companies.

There were suggestions during the meeting that there must be permanent infrastructure in place to ensure that coal consignment is covered properly during transportation.

Coal handlers will be given six months to upgrade their infrastructure to enable transportation in enclosed containers, an official said.

For sometime now there have been protests against coal pollution by 'Goa Against Coal' and also by some residents living along rail tracks. The pollution board recently filed cases against coal handlers before the judicial magistrate first class (JMFC) for excess coal handling. In this backdrop, the government was under pressure to react to the protesters, promising them to take immediate action to curb coal pollution.

As mentioned during the public hearing held in June this year for expansion of coal handling capacity at the Mormugao port, there are proposals pending approval to double the coal handling capacity in less than three years from now.

Earlier this month, the pollution board directed MPT to submit details of pollution control measures taken at mooring dolphins to take a final decision on whether to permit coal handling at the site. The board had issued MPT a showcause notice in July regarding consent to operate for mooring dolphins in the port's offshore territorial limits.

It also issued showcause notice to South West Port Limited (SWPL) for handling an excess coal and asked for an explanation as to why consent to operate should not be revoked.