the goan I network
VASCO
Officilals of Mormugao Port Trust ( MPT) and Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB) on Monday installed pollution checking machines at Kharewado.
The machines were incidentally installed above the office of Old Cross Fishing Canoe Owners Society Cooperative Limited (OCFCSCL), which had raised a voice against dredging taken up by MPT and had demanded that permission for coal handling at mooring dolphins by GSPCB be withdrawn immediately. The machines were installed at Kharewado after former minister and Goa Fishing Boat Owners Association President had accused MPT and GSPCB of installing pollution check machines at wrong locations in the city and against the direction of the winds.
The President of OCFCSCL and Convenor Goa Against Coal (GAC) Custodio D’Souza welcomed the decision of GSPCB and MPT and also offered to provide power and security to the machines.
The machines will begin functioning from Tuesday morning.
Officials of the GSPCB informed that the machines were known as as respirable dust samplers and would be working for 24 hours.
“Two machines have been installed and these will be measuring ambient air quality. The machines will monitor four parameters -- PM 10, PM 2.5, sulphur dioxide and nitrogen dioxide. We have installed the machines here to check for ambient air quality while measuring the levels of pollution. The readings will be taken every four hours,” said
an official.
GAC too will install parallel machines: Custodio D’Souza
VASCO: Convenor of Goa Against Coal Custodio D’Souza has said that they have also arranged for pollution check machines and these too will also be installed above the office of OCFCSCL.
“We had asked the MPT and GSPCB officials if they have any issues if we place our machines to which they have not raised any objection. We will also install our machines and both these will check pollution levels. We will check both readings simultaneously. The place where these machines are now installed is the right one as the wind carrying coal dust blows in this direction,” he said.
“The government machines must be genuine and I don’t want them to install something which that is faulty and shows wrong readings. Goa government must also allow us to install pollution check machines because in case their machines face issues, we can check the levels of pollution from our machines. This will bring the much required clarity and also both of us (GAC and GSPCB ) will be satisfied. We will place our machines besides theirs from Tuesday,”
he added.
“I welcome the decision of GSPCB to place their machines above our office and I also request that the GSPCB must also accept the readings of our machine,” said D’Souza
