The Goan: How seriousaccording to you is the pollution?
P Mara Pandiyan:Coal is a dirty cargo. And as I have said we are aware that fine dust particlesare thrown up every time loading unloading happens. I don’t deny that it iscausing inconvenience to the people but then we are doing our best to containall that.
TG: But the coalhandling berths are open ones and your best efforts are not turning out to bethe best.
PMP: I talked tothe Barge Owners and proposed that we have a coal storage facility inland. Letthe returning barge offload coal at the outer mooring dolphins and take itthere. That way nobody will be affected. The State can identify land for us ina remote location which we will acquire.
TG: You have beenserved show cause notice for pollution by GSPCB. How come their readings showpollution but MPUA’s does not? Do you also have a pollution monitoring station?
PMP: That isindeed baffling. In monsoons, there is heavy moisture in atmosphere. Such highlevels are not possible. Simultaneously, we are also setting up a station inPort Institute that will be tamper proof and which we shall hand over to GSPCBto run and monitor.
TG: How come younever had an Environmental Impact Assessment done for Coal Berths? How didGSPCB give you a clearance to offload coal on a berth adjacent to the city?
PMP: They musthave done it and considered it while giving us the Consent to Operate when thecoal imports start or else how could we operate. As for EIA, our West ofBreakwater EIA is a comprehensive one that encompasses the entire Port and its’hinterland, a specific EIA will be mere duplication.
TG: Your commitmentto health of Vasco’s citizens and their prolong exposure to coal dust raises alot of question. Being a Govt entity in a welfare State wasn’t it your duty toconduct a health study?
PMP: Dust comesnot just because of coal but also iron ore which is also lying in MPT since avery long time. Coming back to the question of health survey, since the areafalls outside our jurisdiction we cannot conduct or carry anything like that onour own.
TG: Who imports thecoal on Berth Nos 10 and 11? Why does MPUA not take interest?
PMP: 75% of thecoal on these berths is meant for industries within Goa. The coal going outsideis by railways and from mechanized berth nos 5A and 6A. As for MPUA, breakingaway from the past when they used to send their Stevedores and ForwardingAgents, we are holding a meet of all MDs and CEOs within the next week to makethem also sensitive to the problem.
TG: Why don’t youstop coal import till October 2014 when the berths become completelymechanised?
PMP: We have 7000people of which 4000 are pensioners, all Goans. Their salary bills itself cometo Rs. 12-15 crores. The iron-ore exports too have been going down, we have nochoice.
TG: What about greencargo? Grains, containers?
PMP: We areimporting grains through Berth No 10. We are in talks with Food Corporation ofIndia for more bulk grains cargo. Even that shall happen. Our Port expansiontowards Kharewaddo side is all aimed at such clean cargo.
