VASCO
Tense moments prevailed at the Mormugao Port Authority (MPA) on Thursday morning after a number of residents and social activists protested outside the MPA gates and blocked the movement of heavy vehicles from Gate 9 which leads to the city roads.
The protestors demanded that heavy vehicles from the port be banned on city roads and insisted that the vehicles use the four-lane port connectivity bridge instead.
Vasco police and the CISF rushed to the site to prevent any law and order situation.
Speaking to reporters, social activist Xencor Polgi said coal and bauxite pollution had caused a lot of concerns to the people.
"We have made a huge noise about this pollution in the past but this time we have decided to go ahead and take this step. The importers are now bringing a huge cap-sized ships and we now realised that the dredging was being carried out to accommodate these huge ships,” said Polgi.
“The government has ignored our demands to curb pollution and this transportation through the city makes it worse because in addition to pollution due to spillage, it also leads to accidents.”
“We have decided to block the transportation because the city roads are full of bauxite and coal but neither the MLAs nor the Mormugao Municipal Council is bothered. Transportation can take place from the new port connectivity flyover which is already ready,” he added.
Social activist Suraj alias Balan Chodankar said people will block transportation through city.
"This transportation from the city was closed for two years but has suddenly started and we want to know why this has happened. The Government has spent Rs 500 crore for a new flyover but that is not being used and why should innocent residents face the brunt of this transportation especially during peak tourism season despite knowing that the city roads are congested and many people have lost their lives?
“The transport department must intervene and stop this movement of vehicles and we have also requested Vasco MLA Krishna Salkar to support our cause," said Chodankar.
