VASCO
Rejecting allegations of coal pollution at the port, Mormugao Port Authority (MPA) Chairman A V Ramanna on Wednesday said all equipment and measures are in place to contain pollution levels.“There is no pollution at all in the Goa port and anyone is free to come and check. We have infrastructure of global standards with sprinkling being done. Pollution monitoring equipment is also in place that monitors pollution levels from time to time and we can see the readings as well,” said Ramanna, while speaking to the media.
“There is absolutely no issue and this is just a misunderstanding, because of which port is losing cargo and the State is losing revenue, while local employment is going down. As we improve cargo and increase volumes, it is bound that we will need more equipment that will lead to more employment," said Ramanna.
"All our existing equipment are of global standards and all required precautions and laid down procedures are being followed as per Goa State Pollution Control Board requirements and pollution levels are being measured from time to time so there is no question of pollution,” he added.
The MPA chairman said the port was handling around 50 million metric tonnes of cargo a few years ago which has gradually decreased to around 18 million metric tonnes for multiple reasons, including a ban on iron ore, connectivity issues and environmental issues.
“The MPA takes responsibility for betterment of Goans and when we conceptualise any PPP projects, we ensure that the cargo got in by PPP operator is at global standards so that there is not even an inch of pollution.”
“Coal was being handled manually earlier but now we ensure that we have such machines of global standard that there is no pollution even at the peak of handling activity at any given time," said Ramanna.
BERTHS ON PPP MODE
The MPA chairman said the MPA has presently conceptualised Berth 9 on PPP mode and Berths 10 and 11 also on PPP mode, but on operate and maintain model.
“The type of equipment we expect here is at global standards at par with European and American standards to make it more efficient and there will be no pollution.”
“This will also ensure more employment of around 200 direct employment per berth and almost 1,500 indirect employment. The MPA will also benefit along with the local community" said Ramanna.
"We want to change from mono cargo to multi-cargo, particularly like containers and this will help the financial position of the port and lead to generation of more jobs for locals,” said Ramanna.
Fishing jetty work awaits CRZ clearance: Chairman
VASCO: Mormugao Port Authority (MPA) Chairman A V Ramanna said the jetty at Kharewaddo has been awaiting CRZ clearance and once obtained, an ultra-modern fishing harbour would be set up.
"We are conceptualising fishing jetties, Ro-Ro jetties and jetties for the Navy and Coast Guard and we are awaiting CRZ clearances. The fishing harbour is for locals and it will be an ultra-modern fishing harbour with facilities like cold storage, auction halls, conveyors and even repair yards for fishing trawlers,” said Ramanna.
“The catch of fish will not get damaged when handled by conveyors and will not lose its freshness with cold storage facilities. We hope to get the CRZ clearance soon so that this project can also generate thousands of direct and indirect employment.”
“Once we get this CRZ clearance, there will be several schemes to boost Vasco infrastructure worth Rs 534 crores, which include fishing harbour and various jetties like Ro-Ro jetty and other jetties for Navy and Coast Guard," said Ramanna.
