Just as the year 2021 was drawing to a close, there was another shocker of news that left Goans baffled. The Goa State Pollution Control Board accepted the project study report on “particulate source apportionment study for air quality in Vasco” conducted by the Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay. The study that was aimed at addressing the particulate pollution in Vasco concluded that coal is not the only main source of air pollution in the port town of Vasco.
The study has held that coal contributed 20 to 30 per cent to the air pollution, and mentioned vehicular emissions, marine salt aerosol, port-related activities, biomass, solid waste burning and road dust as responsible factors. It indirectly debunked the commonly held belief that coal is the single largest contributor affecting ambient air quality in Vasco.
The most unfortunate part is that the IIT study has done grave injustice by restricting itself to a sampling of particulate matter between PM2.5 and PM10 when it was in agreement that coal pollution is traceable above those limits. This means that chances of finding particulate coal pollution were higher if the scope of the study was widened beyond PM10.
The question is, why did IIT not enlarge the study beyond the PM10 scale? If we may recall, Minister for Environment Nilesh Cabral, in an answer to a starred LAQ tabled on January 27, 2021, had answered in the affirmative when asked if the IIT suggested the possibility of coal fugitives emanating beyond the study scale of PM10. He had also acknowledged that the study is restricted to below PM10, and replied that the pollution control board has written to the IIT to widen the scope of the study and even tabled a letter as an annexure to justify his statement. In point 4 of the letter, GSPCB requested the inclusion of count beyond PM10 as part of the study for determining trend and contribution and recommended levels of PM10.
Shockingly, the Goa State Pollution Control Board has now accepted the report when the IIT has not considered its request as per the letter, making it an incomplete exercise as far as the vexed coal pollution aspect of Vasco is concerned. The GSPCB has not only acted unfairly but has sought to cover up the issue by accepting the report when it had every right to reject it since it was not meeting the requirements. It may be noted here, that the study spanning across 18 months from November 8, 2017, to May 7, 2019, cost Rs 94.5 lakh, plus taxes, an invoice of which was sent to the MPT through GSPCB.
Here are some pertinent questions: Why did GSPCB not raise this issue when an interim report was submitted on December 1, 2020? Why was this deficiency not pointed out even in the official discussions held between the IIT team and GSPCB on September 21, 2021? Why was the report accepted in the first place?
The environment minister and the pollution control board are aware of the severity of this issue which has been plaguing the port town for decades. Coal pollution has been linked even to deaths in the area, and residents have frequently taken to the streets in protest. Large sections of people have been fiercely fighting against coal pollution. By accepting this study, the pollution control board has attempted to project a false picture to the public and douse the flames of resentment against the rising opposition to coal expansion. The environment minister and the board should be representing the interest of the people fairly and transparently since they are holding a supreme responsibility of safeguarding the environment and welfare of citizens. Accepting the study in its current form means that compromises have been made. The environment minister and the GSPCB need to answer to the people of Goa.
