PANAJI
The request of South West Port Limited to handle additional (though coal handling company claim this as adjustment handling) coal during non-monsoon months at Mormugoa port is rejected by Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB) at a recently held board meeting in December 2020.
The firm, a venture of the JSW group, South West Port Ltd (SWPL) had requested to handle 0.515 MMTPM (though their present limit is 0.4 MMTPM) in non-monsoon months with an increase of 0.115 MMTPM citing the reason that they could not exploit the permitted quantity limit of 0.575 MMTPM per month during the monsoon season for four months.
The company has made a demand to handle more coal in non-monsoon so as to maintaining the annual capacity of 5.5MMTA.
After deliberation on the issue in the meeting held on December 15, 2020, GSPCB members were of the opinion that SWPL was granted permission to handle 0.575 MMTPM during the monsoon considering that there will not be adverse pollution during the monsoon season.
“As the source apportionment study report by IIT is awaited it would not be prudent to permit the unit to utilise the permitted capacity during the non-monsoon season,” says a noting of minutes of 146th board meeting. So the board decided not to permit SWPL for adjustment in coal handling.
