Times of India reported that the Goa state pollution control board inspection team has observed that the Mormugao port trust has continued coal handling at berth nos 10 and 11 even after it was asked to stop coal and coke handling at the said berths.

GSPCB officials on Wenesday visited the site along with MPT's senior assistant traffic manager (shipping) and senior executive engineer. The inspection was conducted to verify the activity at berth nos 10 and 11 as per the directions issued by the board.

The inspection report stated “MPT officials mentioned that with respect to the directions referred above, the activity of unloading the coal and coke from the ship have been stopped from September 25, 2012. However, loading of coal on trucks and coke on to the wagons have not been stopped.”

The inspection report also stated that unit officials said that about 161 trucks have been loaded with coal and dispatched on September 25, 2012, and that a copy of the daily report of loading has been enclosed.

It stated ?”As per the daily report, the total quantity of met coke, thermal coal and pet coke present at berth no 11 is 1.50 million tonnes.”

GSPCB officials observed that coke was stored adjacent to the rail track at berth no 11, and that the same would be loaded on to wagons for transportation to Karnataka. "It was seen that the wagon had arrived," the report stated.

Officials also observed that the coal was being loaded on to trucks by JCB machines at berth no 11.

Source - Times of India

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