Cyclists in Magdalla pedal in coal dust

Surat: It’s with much fanfare that the Surat Municipal Corporation (SMC) embarked upon the ‘cycle4change’ initiative under the smart cities mission in response to the challenges that the Covid-19 pandemic has thrown. Nevertheless, the avid cyclists are facing a bigger challenge in the form of severe coal dust pollution, while travelling towards Dumas and Magdalla.
In the last few years, the stretch from Athwagate to Dumas beach has become the favourite track for hundreds of cyclists. However, the 300-metre patch starting from Magdalla port to the fly-over bridge at ONGC junction is the biggest nightmare, where cyclists are exposed to ill-effects of pollution.
Dozens of transport vehicles loaded with coal from the Magdalla port drive past the main road connecting Magdalla to Vesu, spilling mounds of coal dust on the entire stretch from Magdalla to ONGC bridge. Despite various representation to the concerned authorities, the nightmare for over 7,000 cyclists still continues.
“The road from Athwagate to Dumas beach is the only ideal track for cyclists. Our club members hit the road in the morning to avoid pollution, but the patch from Magdalla to ONGC bridge is ruining our cycling,” said Yogesh Patel, founder of Life Cycling Green Association.
According to Patel, his association has represented the issues to the civic body, regional transport office (RTO) and the Gujarat Pollution Control Board (GPCB) since last one decade.
The GPCB guidelines states that the coal handling unit shall ensure that all the trucks before leaving the storage yard shall be showered with water and covered with tarpaulin. “We have been carrying out regular inspection at the coal storage area at Magdalla port. However, it is the responsibility of the RTO, SMC and the traffic police to check the overloading of the trucks,” said Parag Dave, regional officer of GPCB.