VASCO
Congress party leaders visited the Mormugao Port Trust (MPT) on Monday to seek clarity on the coal pollution issue in the port town, but were left disappointed as neither the MPT Chairman Dr E Ramesh Kumar nor his deputy G P Rai were present to meet them.
The Congress delegation, which included AICC Secretary Dr A Chellakumar, Opposition Leader Chandrakant Kavlekar, GPCC President Girish Chodankar, GPCC Vice President Sankalp Amonkar, GPCC Mahila President Pratima Coutinho and GPCC Youth President Adv Varad Mardolkar, were left to interact with MPT Traffic Manager Vipin Menoth along with other heads of departments.
Though the delegation discussed various issues and sought clarity on the coal pollution issue, Menoth said he would take up their queries, issues and suggestions with the MPT chairman as he was not authorized to speak on behalf of MPT in the absence of MPT chairman.
“We are perhaps the largest PSU in Goa and we belong to Goa and everything that we earn or do is for Goa. As a PSU, we are duty-bound to follow all the statutory norms because we are a Govt of India concern,” said Menoth.
“Our Chairman is taking steps in this direction and has chalked out various plans to address the issue. We
also had a special exclusive board meeting to address the issue on what actions have to be taken.”
“His primary plans are pollution containment and improvements of perception of what is being done to tackle the issue,” said Menoth.
Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Chodankar said that he was not satisfied with replies from MPT officials.
“We had arrived to meet the MPT chairman to discuss about pollution in Vasco, but he was not there. We have not got satisfactory answers but we will come back again to meet the chairman to address this issue at a later date,” said Chodankar.
