PANAJI: The permission granted to Mormugao Port Trust (MPT) to enhance the amount of coal handled at mooring dolphins is based on “half-baked” presentations and without adequate data, said Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB) member Blaise Costabir in a dissent note submitted to the government.
In his note submitted to GSCPB member secretary Shamila Monteiro, Costabir expressed concern over the data presented by MPT and suggested that photoshopped images were used to seek permission to increase the quantum of coal handling.
“The board clearly noted the fact that (source apportionment) report was not available and thus the presentation, which was clearly half-baked, could not be appropriate for taking a decision. Thus the board at that time decided to wait for the report,” Costabir said.
According to Costabir, the board had refused to take into account his concerns.
Monteiro claimed that Costabir left the meeting early and thus is not entitled to comment on the board’s decisions.
“The minutes clearly reflect my attendance and there is no mention of the undersigned having left early as no such request was made. I am sure the other board members who left with me in the lift will attest to my presence till the end,” Costabir said.
GSPCB’s minutes of the meeting state that superintendent engineer Sudin Prabhudesai made a presentation on behalf of MPT, seeking permission to handle 2 MMT of coal. Based on the presentation, GSPCB allowed MPT to permit two ships per month to unload coal not exceeding to 0.2 million tonne per month at mooring dolphins with conditions up to December 31.
The permission was granted after deliberating on the impact of coal handling and transportation. GSPCB imposed certain conditions for coal handling.
“I was present for the entire presentation, including asking for a picture of a grab bucket to be re-shown as it appeared photoshopped as there was not a speck of dust visible in the picture, which is improbable. I also asked why the dust levels showed an increase in a slide and the MPT representative stated that it is because children were playing near a data collection station,” Costabir said in the dissent note.