Goa pollution board issues notices to Mormugao Trust, two port operators

PANAJI: Goa State Pollution Control Board ( GSPCB) has issued notices to Mormugao Port Trust (MPT) and two major companies handling coal at its terminal under pollution control norms for allegedly causing environmental hazard.

GSPCB has issued show cause notice to MPT, M/s Adani Murmugao Port Terminal Private Ltd and JSW's South West Port Ltd after it was noticed that the dust pollution emanating from the coal handling has increased in the port town of Vasco, 40 kms from here.

Board Chairman Jose Manuel Noronha said the companies and the port administration have been asked why their consent under Water and Air Pollution Prevention Act should not be withdrawn.

"The show cause notices were issued when it was noticed that the coal handling terminals did not take mandatory measures to control the pollution emanating from the coal dust," Noronha said.

The GSPCB relied on the data collected from Air Ambient monitoring station which showed that the suspended particles was above permissible level.

The notices served under Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, are answerable by December 29.

The Board had renewed the consent given to JSW Group and Adani in April this year, while MPT's application is still pending.