31 August,2009 10:08 AM IST | | IANS
The Central government would crack the whip on the Mormugao Port Trust (MPT) for causing large scale dust pollution in the port town of Vasco in south Goa, Minister of State for Environment and Forests Jairam Ramesh has said.
Ramesh, who was in Goa to attend a public consultative session on the Coastal Regulatory Zone (CRZ), told reporters on Sunday that he was appalled by the huge open dumps near the berthing jetties at MPT, a Central government-run enterprise.
"I was unhappy to see such mountains of coal dumped in the open. I have called and informed the Union minister for shipping (GK) Vasan in presence of your Chief Minister (Digambar Kamat)," Ramesh said.
"Vasan has assured me that he will visit Goa to look into the matter and contact the Goa chief minister to find a solution to the problem," he added.
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Coal dust pollution, precipitated by open dumping of coal in the port premises, is a major issue in the port town, with successive state governments unable to force the MPT to enhance its pollution control measures.
A petition seeking judicial intervention filed by residents of Vasco on the issue is pending before the Panaji bench of the Bombay High Court.
