VASCO
Reacting to the Mormugao Municipal Council’s (MMC) claims to have written a letter to the MPT to stop all transportation of ammonia and chemicals through Vasco city limits, the Zuari Agro Chemicals Limited (ZACL) has said it would be practically impossible to skip movement of any cargo through city limits till the proposed four-lane highway is completed.
Rejecting speculations by many people following the recent ammonia leakage as unfounded, ZACL PRO Anand Rajadyaksha told The Goan that ZACL was following all norms and regulations laid by all statutory departments concerned and that all its transportation tankers have safety standard and fitness certificates.
“We have not received any letter from the MMC or any other authority regarding the restriction of plying of tankers carrying ammonia cargo through the port town from the port after the incident on Friday,” said Rajadyaksha.
“It is practically impossible to skip the movement of any cargo through the city limits till the proposed four-lane highway is completed.”
“As of now, not a single cargo offloaded from the port can skip the roads of Vasco till the new four-lane flyover is completed. So the question of restricting the movement of any cargo from the port through city limits does not arise at all,” said Rajadhyaksha.
Insisting that all ZACL tankers have necessary fitness certificates, Rajadyaksha added: “Speculation made by people is totally unfounded. All our transportation tankers have safety standard and fitness certificates. All the norms with regard to transportation of our cargo are followed at all times and we are strictly adhering to all the safety norms at all times.” “The ZACL unit follows all norms and regulations laid by all statutory departments concerned. We are having all necessary documents and certificates, besides license and other statutory permission, and consent to store and transport the cargo. We are on any day willing to provide the same to any authorities who would like to inspect or check our contention,” added Rajadhyaksha.
Earlier, MMC Chief Officer Agnelo Fernandes informed that the council had written to MPT on Tuesday to stop all transportation of ammonia and chemicals through Vasco city limits.
The MMC has written to the port and also informed Vasco police and Traffic Cell that till such time the enquiry into the ammonia leakage following a tanker mishap is not complete, the movement of tankers carrying ammonia and phosphoric acid be stopped.
“The Council took a decision to write to authorities concerned to further shift transportation of hazardous chemicals outside Vasco limits as the council felt the cargo could possibly pose danger and nuisance to the residents,” said Fernandes.
“Vasco is sitting on a time bomb and we feel anything creating nuisance should not be allowed within city limits” said Fernandes.
