the goan I network
PANAJI
In an unanimous decision, the Goa Assembly on Friday passed a resolution not to allow excessive coal handling in the State.
The resolution moved by Congress' leader Ravi Naik expressed "concern about pollution that is occurring due to excessive coal handling at MPT" and recommend that issue be taken to appropriate authority for redressal. The resolution was unanimously adopted by all Opposition as well as Ruling legislators in the House.
Replying to the resolution, Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar said "the entire controversy surrounding coal handling and pollution at Mormugao Port Trust is an effort to tarnish Goa's image especially from a tourism point of view and possibly by rival tourism destinations".
He said "rather than opposing coal, Goans should strive to reduce their carbon footprint by going green".
"The competition is worrying everybody... people are using this (coal pollution) to defame Goa. I (recently) got a call, with the caller saying that Goa is not safe anymore. When news comes in a national paper, it is distorted," Parrikar said.
"These reports are used against Goa (to convince tourists) that Goa is no more a good, safe tourist destination," Parrikar said.
"Because we are a tourist oriented state, environment is important. Pollution is not acceptable in Goa. There are no two ways about this," Parrikar said.
Earlier in the discussion Calangute MLA Michael Lobo said that because of the coal pollution tourists would begin to avoid Goa.
"We should keep (coal handling) under control. Today MPT is berthing a large number of cruise ships. If they (cruise tourists) know that there is pollution and that air pollution has grown, they will stop coming. Goa is meant as a tourism hub. We have to promote Goa as a tourism hub. The only business which we rely on today which we depend today is only tourism," Lobo said.
"At the same port tourists from all over the world are coming. If we don't stop it, we will be blacklisted as far as ship cruise are concerned. If we don't take this seriously we will be in trouble," Lobo said.
Parrikar reiterated his earlier claims that there will be no coal expansion in Goa and further that he would bring coal pollution under control by February.
The Chief Minister also read out from the Goa State Pollution Control Board's covering letter to the Ministry of Environment and Forests, which has recommended that a source apportionment study, which was not part of the original terms of reference of the environment impact assessment study, be conducted and that the expansion projects not be considered unless the study is done.
"This does not mean consider favourably," Parrikar said adding that IIT Bombay has been appointed to conduct the source apportionment study.
He also assured that on the request of his party colleague José Luis Carlos Almeida, the state government would "conduct an independent health study to ensure that there is no health problem."
"MPT has already conducted one such health survey and found that there is no adverse effects on our health, but for the sake of independence, we will conduct a separate survey," Parrikar said.
Replying to the concerns of members who questioned the action that will be initiated against South West Port Ltd for excess handling of coal, more than double that is permitted under the terms of the environmental consent to operate, Parrikar said action would be initiated once period of 30 days to reply to the notice, which ends on December 30 is complete.
