the goan I network
VASCO
With the Goa State Pollution Control board (GSPCB) giving Jindal South West (JSW) the consent to handle coal, Convenor of Rozgar Bachao Abhiyan (RBA) and former MMC chairman Shekhar Khadapkar on Saturday said the JSW must now ensure that 75 per cent of jobs created and contracts generated should be awarded to local lesidents.
“They (JSW) must agree and abide to all terms and conditions by the GSPCB for renewal of consent to operate. There should be no issues of pollution faced by residents of the surrounding areas,” Khadapkar told reporters.
“They must now go ahead with the dome and the screen to prevent coal pollution from spreading to surrounding areas and also ensure they don’t handle excessive cargo,” said Khadapkar.
Khadapkar recalled that the RBA had earlier organised a massive rally in February with thousands of members of the Mormugao Port fraternity, which included employees and workers of the port and port users, transporters, stevedores, vessel agents and EXIM traders, to demand their right to employment and sustenance.
“A memorandum had been handed over to the Mormugao Dy Collector demanding that GSPCB be unbiased in reporting pollution figures and issuing guidelines to contain pollution, besides restoring consent for handling of coal at the port,” said Khadapkar.
