NT NETWORK
VASCO
Former environment and forest minister Alina Saldanha has asked the Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB) to initiate action against the polluting units like Adani and Jindal which have made the life of the people miserable in the port town of Vasco and also in other parts of the state. She also asked the GSPCB to study the source of the coal dust pollution.
She was speaking at the environmental public hearing at Tilak Maidan on Friday. Saldanha who is a second-time MLA of Cortalim constituency disclosed that the transportation activities of the coal handling units at Mormugao Port affects the life of the people in Vasco and also those residing in other parts of the state. She alleged that the coal handling activities at MPT are not done as per laws framed by the government of India and GSPCB. “We cannot simply compromise with the health, safety and livelihood of the people because of some profit-making industries which are handling coal,” said Saldanha.
Saldanha disclosed that she had noticed negligence and lapses on part of coal handling companies during the course of inspection where water sprinklers were non-functional, but interestingly the coal handling operation was in full swing. She informed that the coal handling activities at berth 10 and 11 were shut down due to the excessive coal handling activities and high level of coal dust pollution.
