PANAJI
The Chief Minister Pramod Sawant has clarified that the proposed redevelopment of berths at Mormugao port is to facilitate iron ore export and tourism-related activities and that no more berths would be allowed to handle additional coal cargo.
The Union Ministry for Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) last month granted environmental and CRZ clearance to the Mormugao Port Authority’s (MPA) proposed redevelopment of berth 8 and 9 and barge berth at an estimated cost of Rs 1145.36 crore thus increasing its cargo handling capacity to 19.5 million tonnes per annum (MTPA) from existing 13 MTPA.
According to the project proponent, the Berth No 8 that currently handles liquid cargo will be converted to handle coal/coke and general cargo while berth 9 and 9A will continue to handle iron ore.
“At present coal cargo is handled from berth No 5A and 6A by Jindal. I have personally spoken to the Union Minister for Shipping and Ports and also MPA chairman to ensure that once the iron ore export resumes, no more berths are dedicated to handle coal or other cargo,” Sawant said adding ‘we will see that the coal handling capacity is not enhanced’.
The Chief Minister also said “once the mining activities commence, all the berths would be occupied for iron ore export”.
He further said that MPA is investing around Rs 300-400 crore for tourism-related activities and it will not be restricted to only import and export. “The project is expected to be completed within two years,” he added.
Sawant informed that the Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB) has granted consent to Jindal South West (JSW) to construct a dome structure at MPA area to stack all the coal handled by the firm. The JSW is set to invest Rs 180 crore to construct the facility, which is likely to be completed within nine to ten months.
Currently, JSW owned South West Port Pvt Ltd (SWPL) handles 5.5 million metric tonnes of coal per annum at Berth Nos 5A and 6A, while Adani Mormugao Port Terminal Pvt Ltd (AMPTPL) has got consent for berth No 7 to handle 5.2 million metric tonnes of coal annually.
