VASCO
Activists in the port town on Saturday warned of a massive agitation by stopping transportation of coal and other cargo to and from the port if overloading of vehicles is not stopped immediately by the Mormugao Port Authority (MPA) and other authorities like RTO and Traffic Cell.
Speaking to media on behalf of the activists, anti-coal activist Xencor Polgi said they had sought an inspection by the Goa State Pollution Control Board in the past for the huge pollution caused while transportation of cargo along the roads through the city and highway.
"The GSPCB carried out an inspection and said pollution is caused due to overloading of cargo. The GSPCB has written to the MPA, the MPA on January 3 issued a circular in this regard. In its circular, MPA has said that to mitigate the likely dust pollution caused by transportation of cargo to and from the port, the GSPCB has recommended some measures which are to be followed strictly by all involved in transportation of cargo,” said Polgi.
“The MPA has said all transportation vehicles must be properly covered with tarpaulin and empty trucks returning to the port must be cleaned at the previous destination. MPA has also said the heap level of the cargo is to be limited slightly below the top level of the truck carrier and wheel washing station must be utilised by the transportation before leaving the port. The MPA has even warned that non-compliance of these measures will be viewed strictly and also include debarring of the transporter and trucks," said Polgi.
Polgi claimed that despite the circular, the transporters would overload trucks without fear of the law and the port and other authorities.
"The traffic police immediately fines people for riding triple seat, but closes its eyes when overloaded trucks move right in front of them. The overloaded trucks cause spillage and this leads to dust pollution but neither the authorities like the Traffic Cell, RTO nor the MPA seems to care.”
“The coal handling companies are also not following GSPCB and MPA recommendations while the local residents continue to suffer.”
The activists have requested Chief Minister Pramod Sawant to intervene and stop the overloading of trucks.
“We will be forced to launch a massive agitation and totally stop transportation if the overloading is not stopped or if the transporters don’t pay heed to the recommendations made by the GSPCB and MPA to mitigate pollution measures," said Polgi.
Speaking to media on behalf of the activists, anti-coal activist Xencor Polgi said they had sought an inspection by the Goa State Pollution Control Board in the past for the huge pollution caused while transportation of cargo along the roads through the city and highway.
"The GSPCB carried out an inspection and said pollution is caused due to overloading of cargo. The GSPCB has written to the MPA, the MPA on January 3 issued a circular in this regard. In its circular, MPA has said that to mitigate the likely dust pollution caused by transportation of cargo to and from the port, the GSPCB has recommended some measures which are to be followed strictly by all involved in transportation of cargo,” said Polgi.
“The MPA has said all transportation vehicles must be properly covered with tarpaulin and empty trucks returning to the port must be cleaned at the previous destination. MPA has also said the heap level of the cargo is to be limited slightly below the top level of the truck carrier and wheel washing station must be utilised by the transportation before leaving the port. The MPA has even warned that non-compliance of these measures will be viewed strictly and also include debarring of the transporter and trucks," said Polgi.
Polgi claimed that despite the circular, the transporters would overload trucks without fear of the law and the port and other authorities.
"The traffic police immediately fines people for riding triple seat, but closes its eyes when overloaded trucks move right in front of them. The overloaded trucks cause spillage and this leads to dust pollution but neither the authorities like the Traffic Cell, RTO nor the MPA seems to care.”
“The coal handling companies are also not following GSPCB and MPA recommendations while the local residents continue to suffer.”
The activists have requested Chief Minister Pramod Sawant to intervene and stop the overloading of trucks.
“We will be forced to launch a massive agitation and totally stop transportation if the overloading is not stopped or if the transporters don’t pay heed to the recommendations made by the GSPCB and MPA to mitigate pollution measures," said Polgi.
