SALIGAO/PANAJI: With no action taken by Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB) against coal handling operations at the Mormugao port, Vasco locals on Monday submitted samples of coal dust collected from their homes to GSPCB chairman Ganesh Shetgaonkar and demanded that coal operations be stopped.The delegation, led by Sherwyn Correia, Jayesh Shetgaonkar, Sanjay Redkar, Purushottam, and Claude Alvares from the Goa Foundation , produced several sample packets filled with tissue paper containing swabs from various homes and offices in Vasco, all of which were black with coal dust.They also submitted real time data of coal pollution collected by them where PM 2.5 data indicated that the particulate matter rose up to 200 micro gram per cubic metre on the morning of March 25.“How much of this coal dust goes into the food, how much of it do we inhale, and how much probably goes into the water?” a Vasco resident said.Stating that no action was coming forth from the GSPCB, Alvares urged the chairman to look into the matter on an urgent basis.“If citizens can provide data, then I just cannot understand why the board cannot go and collect data pertaining to the coal pollution levels,” Alvares said. Shetgaonkar gave the delegation a patient hearing and assured them of taking appropriate action in the matter.The citizens also objected to the grant of any renewal of consent to SWPL when the present consent expires on March 31.Further, they objected to an application submitted by SWPL for enhancement of coal handling. The March 15 meeting of the pollution board had to be cancelled after the Election Commission (EC) sent the board a notice. The board has now applied to the EC for permission to hold the meeting. If held, the citizens have demanded that the board also gives them a hearing before any further decisions are taken.Correia told reporters that the board must listen to aggrieved people of the city. Alvares said it is a practice all over the country for the board to listen to any person who has objections during a grant of consent, respond to allegations and then consider whether or not to grant consent.The delegation also showed Shetgaonkar proof that coal handlers were handling coal on days when wind speeds were in excess of 10km, a condition added to the consent terms by the GSPCB when the suspension order was revoked on February 21. “Despite these violations, the Board has been afraid to act,” Alvares said.Vasco locals told the Board that they have lost confidence in its ability to monitor and control coal pollution in Vasco from MPT operations and hence, coal handling should be permanently shut down.Shetgaonkar criticised Mormugao MLA Milind Naik’s recent statements that his constituency has not been impacted by coal pollution and that those opposing coal handling are outsiders.

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