Goa’s state pollution control board (GSPCB) has woken upfrom its Rip Van Winkle“esque slumber, to stop coal handling operations onberths 10 and 11. The sheer callousness of its criminal negligence, towards theport town and its residents, was ironically more visible in its action to stopnow than ever before in the past 10 years.
With pressure mounting from locals and perhaps to a smallmeasure by publications like The Goan, the pollution control board has askedoperations, which it allowed to continue for ten years, to stop, becausepollution control measures were not taken. Pardon the non-related similaritybut a very potent parallel. It’s akin to a mother realising, for the first timein ten years, that her child needs toilet training.
The pollution control board has for the past decadecontinuously given the MPT consent to operate its coal berth operations inberth number 10 and 11, the latest as recently as May 23. Are we, in our right senses, expected todigest that till May 23, 2012, the PCB found no reason not to give MPT theconsent to handle coal in a way that the city and its residents suffered, andstill do so. For ten years, families living just outside the periphery of theport begin the day by removing layers of coal dust from their floors and battlethrough the day to survive under the dust storm that enters their food and theirlungs.
The MPT chairman Mr Mara Pandiyan, in a manner so nonchalantthat it makes the blood boil, actually said that any pollution outside hisboundary walls are not his, but the local governments concern. Sure, but willhe say the same when someone throws garbage in his (the Chairman’s) compoundand says it isn’t his responsibility since it’s outside his boundary wall? TheMPT, the port users (the importers) and the magnates who construct berths(Jindals, Adanis etc) have a comfortable arrangement where the impact ofpollution on people “outside their boundary wall” are not allowed to become irritatingimpediments.
The reasons cited in its closure order are actually afarcical reminder of the pollution control boards own inefficiency of carryingout its principle mandate-control; pollution. The pollution control board hasbeen a silent and perhaps willing witness to the activities of the principalpolluter, the MPT. While the focus is on berths number 10 and 11, why shouldberths 5A and 6A the mechanised berths of the Jindal group be devoid ofscrutiny.
The GSPCB, in its letter of closure blames the MPT for theincrease in dust pollution in Vasco. It’s an absolutely correct charge. It hasmentioned the MPT’s failure in putting in place ambient air control, stations,using effective sprinklers and not covering trucks. But the GSPCB has no oneelse to blame but itself. The pollution control board may have tried to drape alayer of dust over the eyes of Vascoites to cover their lapses, withoutrealising that locals have suffered and choked for far too long to give Goa’santi-pollution regulator a clean chit. Here’s why. The pollution control boardhas unfailingly allowed coal handling operations to continue without insistingon a single public hearing. It’s quick to point out that it is the Ministry ofEnvironment and Forests prerogative to do an Environment Impact Assessment andget a public hearing done. But has there been any restriction on the GPSCB totake an initiative in this regard? Its role surely goes beyond that of atesting laboratory and extends to that of a genuine protector of, in this case,the industrial environment.
The people of Vasco, have been passive recipients of thepolluting coal with no stake in the industry. Neither the MPT nor a singleimporter of coal has met and engaged with locals. Moreover, where are thebleeding heart NGO’s and professional activists from outside the area, who haveseen a population suffer on a daily basis but not even used their most potenttool “ the internet “ to hammer this issue constantly?
Is Vasco nobody’s child? Is Vasco not as “local” as other“local” towns. Is the suffering of Vasco any less than Verna, Savordem orQuepem. MPT and the port users have, till this day, continued to pollute andthe pollution control board has allowed them to do so.
So what does thefuture hold? Stop coal handling operations till the ambient air quality ispermissible, till there is enough water of 2000 cubic meters daily and anetwork of sprinklers, berths are covered and coal stored in proper silos,enclosed conveyors for transportation, transfer points are enclosed too withmicrofog sprays and water used recirculated. And above all, till the Goagovernment realises that Vacoites outside the MPT boundaries have a right to live.
