------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Documented by Goa Desc Resource Centre Ph:2252660 Website: www.goadesc.org Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Press Clippings on the web: http://www.goadesc.org/mem/ ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ -------------------------------------------------- MPT to come under MMC's watch -------------------------------------------------- In a bid to have better co-ordination with different agencies in tackling dust pollution in the port town, the Mormugao Municipal Council has set up a committee to keep a watch on efforts made by the Mormugao Port Trust to control dust pollution.
The panel, jointly headed by Vasco MLA Rajendra Arlekar and Mormugao MLA Karl Vaz, will meet shortly to take stock of the issue.The panel has MMC chairperson Milton Baretto as the ex-officio chairman and include councillors Deepak Naik, Carlos Almeida, Satish Volvaikar, Tara Kerkar, Felicity D'Souza, chairman of the Coal Pollution Monitoring Committee K P Rao, Adv Gluck D'Souza and an official of MPT.
Speaking to reporters, MMC chairperson Baretto stated that the different agencies were involved in the entire operation to control dust pollution and the newly set-up committee would meet shortly to suggest further recommendation to MPT."We take this initiative to solve this issue in greater interest of everyone involved in this trade," stated Baretto and was hopeful of receiving adequate support from the Port authorities.
Coal Pollution Monitoring Committee chairman K P Rao, who was invited by the MMC to discuss the issue on dust pollution, stated that the port authorities have taken measures to implement the recommendation which the committee had advised to minimise coal dust pollution."Considerable improvement will be possible when coal handling shifts to the new facility being put up on berths 5 A and 6 A by South West Port Ltd. which is expected to be commissioned later this month," stated Rao and added that all precautions have been taken to control the generation of coal dust at all handling points at these berths.
Elaborating on the recommendation of the Coal Pollution Monitoring panel, Mr Rao stated that seven recommendations made by the committee were followed by the Port authorities.The recommendations include reduction in height of coal stacks, stocks be brought to reasonable level, and area of 100 metres kept clear from IOC compound, water spraying be improved with different agencies attending separately to discharging points, heaps and internal road, dedicated concrete roads be constructed and kept clean by using mechanical suction sweepers.He further explained that the committee had advised the Port to inspect the trucks carrying the coal and those found unsuitable to be sent back and at the same time to reduce dispatch by road so as to minimise spillage on roads.
Other recommendation include two 7.5-metre high masts to spray water over the heaps over a radius of 40 metres be erected in the coal handling area and planting of trees and supplementing water supply by the use of recycled water in an ongoing process.Representative of Mormugao Port Trust, Engineer Joseph Silveira brought it to the notice of the councillors the various measures being continuously taken to contain the dust pollution.
He stated that Port authorities held meetings regularly with Coal Pollution Monitoring panel. "The situation in the Port and its surrounding areas is substantially controlled and is within the permissible limits," he claimed. Mr Silveira said the Port has taken measures to contain the coal dust. Sprinkling of water continuously on coal stacks and on the roads in the port area while two high mast sprinklers have been installed for sprinkling of water in coal yard. He further informed the councillors that to maintain the roads in clean condition, Port had already deployed two road sweepers and the stack height of the coal is also being maintained at less than 6 metres high and added that coal is stacked away from the compound wall.
Meanwhile, the president of Save Vasco Concerned Citizens Committee Adv Gluck D'Souza, has strongly objected the inclusion of his name in the so-called MMC Coal Pollution Monitoring panel in his absence and without his consent.He said at the joint meeting with MMC councilors, MPT officials, Goa Pollution Control Board, Govt appointed Coal Pollution Monitoring Committee & Save Vasco Concerned Citizens Committee, on April 7, at Municipal Hall, Vasco, called by MMC chairperson only views were expressed on the fast spreading coal dust pollution. Mr D'Souza said that their was no formation of the MMC Coal Pollution Monitoring panel. ----------------------------------- HERALD 12/4/04 page 3 -----------------------------------
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