Coal dust pollution: NCP threatens one-day hunger strike
THE GOAN NETWORK
VASCO
The NCP minority department chairperson Nasir Khan on Friday criticised authorities for failing to take action on their memorandum demanding measures by coal handling companies to curb coal dust pollution.
Briefing the media, Khan said they have been raising concerns against growing coal dust pollution in the port town for the last two years. “Despite bringing the matter to the notice of authorities concerned, it has failed to direct the coal handling companies in the port town to curb coal dust pollution.”
“When I as an individual raised the issue, a local politician from Mormugao constituency conducted a site inspection. However for reasons best known to the local politician, he failed to initiate action against the coal handling companies at the port,” added Khan.
“Later, Mormugao Municipal Council and the environment minister convened a meeting of port officials, officials from the coal handling companies and Goa Pollution Control Board and warned the coal handling companies to curb coal dust pollution within a month, failing which road transportation of coal would be stopped,” said Khan.
“More than a month has passed and the environment minister had failed to live up to his warning and the coal dust pollution is much more than it was earlier,” added Khan.
NCP had served a 15-day notice to the Deputy Collector Mormugao to direct the coal handling companies to curb coal dust pollution.
Khan added that since the time period has lapsed, NCP will now create mass awareness against coal dust pollution through educational institutions and general public in the port town and put up banners and posters displaying the effect of coal dust pollution.
“We will also take legal course and will not hesitate to go on a one-day hunger strike in front of the Mormugao Deputy Collector's office,” warned Khan.
NCP spokesperson Parshuram Shetye said earlier that the port used to handle 10 million metric tonnes of coal per annum and presently the coal handling is 14 million metric tonnes per annum.
Vikram Nayak of NCP said earlier only Berth 5 and 6 used to handle coal, but now other Berths 7, 8, 9 and 10 are also leased out to coal handling companies.
