VASCO
Accusing Vedanta company of handling coal at the Mooring Dolphin Berth of Mormugao Port Authority (MPA) at a time when Mormugao Taluka is struggling with coal pollution, Mormugao MLA Sankalp Amonkar on Tuesday assured to raise the issue of coal pollution in the assembly and to lead a public agitation to stop coal operations in the Port.
Addressing reporters at Sada, Amonkar accused the Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB) of conniving with coal handling companies by extending permission to handle coal at the Mooring Dolphin Berth till 2027.
"Entire Mormugao Taluka is struggling with coal pollution and we have always been raising our voices against this, but it looks like MPA does not care. It is sad that Vedanta is getting coal at the Mooring Dolphin Berth and when I called the GSPCB, I was shocked to realise that they have granted permission to Vedanta on June 7," said Amonkar.
Amonkar claimed that in the previous assembly session, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant had assured on the floor of the house that coal would be handled on Dolphin Berths only till December 2020 and no further permission would be granted.
"The GSPCB has now extended this permission as renewal of consent to handle coal at Mooring Dolphin right upto 2027 without taking anyone in confidence. The GSPCB claims that this renewal to handle coal does not require environment clearance while at the same time our mining activity was halted due to this same environment clearance.”
“Coal handling has no benefit to Goans and even the jobs are given to outsiders and these companies don’t entertain Goans. The companies do not even take health check camps of locals or take up a hospital under CSR funds.”
“These decisions by GSPCB have put the lives of the Vascokars and Murgaonkars at risk and I will take this up in the coming assembly sessions as the voice of Mormugao Taluka. GSPCB and coal handling companies are the main culprits and need to be taken to task at all costs," said Amonkar.
Amonkar warned that in if authorities don't act, he would lead a mass agitation and get hundreds of residents to stop the entire coal operation at the Port.
"The CM had given an assurance in the house that coal handling would be reduced by 50 percent and had even stated that the port would encourage cruise tourism and make MPA a port to handle green cargo. However, the GSPCB in connivance with the MPA and coal handling companies are giving permission to handle coal at sea without environment clearance,” alleged Amonkar.
