VASCO
Mormugao Port Trust (MPT) Chairman, I Jayakumar, on Tuesday stated that MPT and Goa State Pollution Control Board have formed a team for monitoring coal dust pollution in the port town.
Jayakumar was speaking after he along with his wife Jay Jay Laximi, along with heads of department, distributed fruits to about 40 patients at Chicalim Cottage Hospital (CCH), Chicalim, on the occasion of Republic Day, as a part of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) in the presence of health officer Dr Sanjay Dalvi.
Jayakumar unfurled the Tricolor at Deep Vihar Primary School, and after visiting the patients at MPT Hospital, visited CCH and interacted with patients.
While interacting with the media, Jayakumar said it was for the first time that MPT thought of distributing fruits to the patients at CCH.
“This tradition will continue. Earlier, we used to visit the patients at MPT Hospital, but this year, we thought of visiting CCH as a part of our CSR and distributed fruits to patients as a small gesture of kindness towards them,” said Jayakumar.
Speaking further, he said MPT along with Goa State Pollution Control Board has formed a team to monitor coal dust pollution.
“Despite covering the coal stacking and constant spraying with water, there was a fire due to internal heating of the coal, which was later brought under control,” he said.
“As far as traffic congestion on the city roads due to movement of heavy vehicles in the port is concerned, the four lanes would be completed within the next 36 months, which will ease traffic on the city roads.”
Jayakumar added that the proposed multi-utility berth will be used to handle coal using world-class handling technology to avoid coal pollution.
“With prices of Goan iron crashing in the international market, we are forced to divert our attention to other cargo, and MPT plans to handle other cargo like LNG and edible oil,” he pointed out.
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MPT ready to sacrifice portion of Khariwada land for fishermen
THE GOAN NETWORK
VASCO
Mormugao Port Trust (MPT) Chairman I Jayakumar said MPT is ready to sacrifice a portion of its land at Khariwada to rehabilitate fishermen for carrying out their occupation.
“Under the Sagarmala scheme, we are planning to pass on this benefit to the fishermen. Under this scheme, there is a provision for coastal community development, which is currently in the pipeline, and this will help the fishermen,” said Jayakumar, while commenting on the structures of fishermen at Khariwada.
When asked for his reaction on the court order, Jayakumar said they have followed the directives of the high court and have resurveyed the area.
“MPT is ready to sacrifice a portion of its land at Khariwada to rehabilitate the fishermen to carry out their occupation. We do not wish to displace the people involved in fishing business, and we want to work out a solution in consultation with the trawler owners and other fishermen, and come out with an amicable solution,” said Jayakumar.
When contacted, All Goa Fishing Boat Owners Association secretary, Simon Pereira, said MPT can expand its port without displacing and destroying the structures at Khariwada.
Supporting his statement, Pereira said if MPT constructs the compound wall to demarcate its area from the old demarcation point, then all the structures and the jetty can be protected without any displacement.
“If MPT constructs compound wall from the old demarcation point, then trawler owners will get enough space to construct an ice plant and create an area to sort out their catch,” said Pereira.
“I hope the present chairman will understand our issue and construct the compound wall from the old demarcation point, which will help both the parties to solve the problem amicably,” added Pereira.
