The Goa State Pollution Control Board may have halted coaloperation at berth 10 and 11 but Adani’s coal berth under construction at MPTis kicking up much heat among concerned locals in Vasco.
Adani’s coal berth is due to start its operation in March2013.
M/s Adani Ports was selected to develop the project in 2009,when it offered a 20 percent revenue share to MPT.
Adani’s terminal is expected to handle around 7 milliontonnes of coal per year, with 5 million tonnes expected in the first full yearof operations.
The coal storage facility of Adani berth is close toresidential areas of Jetty and Headland Sada and therefore raises concern amongthe locals.
Some residents from Vasco under the banner ‘No More Coal’recently gathered in Mormugao Municipal Council (MMC), to brief Chief Minister,Manohar Parrikar about coal dust pollution demanding total closure of coalhandling at MPT.
“We want no more coal in Mormugao. Be it JSW berth no 5A and6A or under construction Adani berth no 7,” said convener of No More Coal,Bharat Kamat.
MPT is the premier iron ore exporting port of India with anannual turnover of around 40 million tonnes of iron ore.
However, after slowdown of iron ore export coal has becomebiggest cargo handled at the port and with commencement of Adani’s berth no 7,coal would certainly overtake iron ore.
The coal importers claim that Adani’s have their own coalmines in Australia and Indonesia and that low-quality coal would be imported toGoa, which will be more polluting in nature.
“The quantum of coal cargo would go drastically high at theport and Adani’s berth would be biggest coal handling berth,” said MormugaoPort User Association’s Executive Director Lawrence D’ Souza.
Adv T T Shreedharan of Concerned Citizen of Vasco, urgedParrikar to revoke the construction license of Adani’s since work has begunwithout conducting a public hearing.
“We have all clearances from various authorities. Theproject has obtained all required legal permission,” said Roy Paul, CorporateCommunication Manager of Adani Group of Companies, Ahmedabad.
“When the berth is not even operational to comment on theapprehension raised by local people would be premature,” Paul said.
