The Mormugao Port Trust (MPT) has reacted sharply to the presence of people from outside Vasco to the three public hearings, saying they are not connected with coal handling operations at the port, but have forcefully demanded a ban on cargo operations rather than strictly implementing environmental laws and safeguards.
VASCO
In a statement, the MPT stated that the public hearing for the past three days for the mechanisation of JSW berth, capital dredging and redevelopment of Berths 8 and 9 have seen “a large number of people from outside Vasco taking centre stage rather than citizens of the port town expressing their opinion.”
“The large number of people from outside Vasco town who are not connected in any way with the coal handling operations at the Port have landed at the hearing and exercised their powers to strongly express their opinions.”
“They are forceful in their demand for stoppage of cargo operations, rather than strictly implementation of environmental laws and safeguards.”
The MPT claimed that their one point agenda has been to demand a ban on coal handling at the port.
“This is most surprising to say the least. What is even more surprising is that the people living in and around the port town of Vasco are by and large silent on the issue, barring a handful of activists and others who are going to the extreme to paint a dark picture of the entire port operations and instilling fears in the minds of the citizens.”
The MPT claimed it was “sad and painful” to note that the citizens in one voice were “demanding the suspension or complete stoppage of coal handling at the port without realizing the fact that the electric power that they consume is generated predominantly from coal only.”
“Therefore, instead of demanding the closure of coal handling, it would be prudent to demand that the cargo is handled within the norms laid down by the Pollution Control Board.”
Admitting that in a democratic set up, citizens have every right to demonstrate and oppose, the MPT felt that people should be “prudent enough to weigh the options fairly so that the economic growth of the state and the country is not stunted or blocked by their action.”
Insisting that coal is the major mineral resource required for running power plants, the MPT said generation of power is essential for the industry and economic growth of the country.
“It would be advisable to ponder, therefore, what would it benefit the local citizens in objecting to the coal handling at the port and stopping the operations, rather than fiercely objecting to the environmental pollution and advocating better safeguards to minimise the pollution
in the atmosphere,” said
the MPT.
“It is sad that most speakers at the public hearing are only emphasising on stoppage of coal handling, rather than highlighting the pollution aspect of the coal.”
Reminding the people that Mormugao Port is the economic edifice of the entire State, the MPT said a large number of industries in and around Goa are entirely dependent on the port.
“The city of Vasco would reap tremendous economic benefit by the development in the port as it leads to cascading effect in the economy. Therefore, it would have served the purpose well,
had the citizens focussed on insisting the compliance of the environmental norms instead of opposing the project for the sake of it,” the MPT added.
While MPT’s unsigned statement was circulated electronically to the media,
MPT Chairman I Jayakumar told The Goan that he endorsed the contents of the MPT statement.
