Even as Vasco breathes in the killer coal dust for the pastdecade, GSPCB Member Secretary Levinson Martins has a very unusual observationas to why a public hearing was not held. “Public Hearings are held only whenthere is an environment impact assessment notification issued,” says Martinswho has no knowledge of any such hearing in the past on coal. This, despite thefact that Martins himself has served as Deputy Collector, Mormugao for overhalf a decade in the past and was a witness to the city’s coal woes.
Whether it is GSPCB, the guardian of Goa’s environment orMPT, the employer of over 3000 Goans or Mormugao Ports Users Association, theimporters of coal of which a significant quantity is cornered by a Goan industrialist,the commitment to Vasco’s health and well-being is lackadaisical. Despitecitizens pointing out to GSPCB that pollution continues unabated, the monolithrefuses to step out of its paperwork and protocol. Vasco Bay turns black ashuge pipes belch black rain runoffs into the water. Vasco’s fishermen atKharewaddo Jetty are the first in the firing line.
“We have never seen any monitoring happening when the hugeclouds of coal billow during unloading or even when dark water streams into theBay”, points out Simon Pereira, GFBOA President. The fishing jetty is justadjacent to the coal berth and has a monitoring station setup by Italab forGSPCB. But then more comprehensive monitoring is left desired for. There are nomonitoring stations on Desterro slope of Headland Sada that overlooks the coalberth or even farther reaches of Vasco including Alto Chicalim where peoplehave complained of coal dust.
What is interesting is that MPT commissioned WAPCOS runmonitoring station are more broad based in their location and reach. EvenMPUA’s Bharathi Ana ambient air quality monitoring station is spread acrossGSPCB. Each has a basic flaw however. Both have shown scant regard forpollution levels in Vasco so their data despite coming from MoEF accreditedlabs would always remain questionable. What is starkly lacking is a CEIA.
Why did the State Government in the past decade insist onCEIA before allowing the coal to be unloaded forget allowing their transportthrough the City? The once pristine Kharewaddo Beach resembles a black, muckymarsh. Fishes have long abandoned Vasco Bay as tons of coal residue settle downon the sea floor. “You won’t miss the black residue everytime the seafloor isdredged here. The flora, fauna of Vasco Bay is dead,” says Ronnie D’Souza, anotherfisherman.
What is even more disturbing is the fact that the coal sonear to the city catches fire in dry days. GFBOA’s Pereira points out that thecoal is adjacent to the Naptha tanks. The fishermen fear that a spark one daymay cause catastrophe in the future. Question is does the State Govt need atragedy like last year’s Naptha fire to wake up?
