The Hindu Business Line : Goa plans unloading facility at Shelvon to tackle iron ore pollution

THE Goa Government has taken the initiative to resolve problems of dust pollution from iron ore at Curchorem town in South Goa and coal pollution in the port city of Mormugao.

The issue of dust pollution faced by people in the towns of Curchorem and Sanvordem in South Goa on account of iron ore brought from places such as Hospet and Bellary from neighbouring Karnataka through railway wagons, for blending with local iron ore by Goan iron ore exporters, was hotly debated by the Opposition in the Assembly during the recent Budget session.

There have also been protests over dust pollution spread by locally transported iron ore, through trucks, in these areas, and over dust from the fine coal imported by local companies from Australia and other countries via Mormugao Port Trust (MPT) in South Goa. Goa has been getting about 8-9 million tonnes of iron ore in recent years from other States for blending.

The State's Deputy Chief Minister and Minister for Environment, Mr Wilfred de Souza, said after studying various proposals, he had cleared South West Railway's proposal to the State Government to allow an unloading facility at Shelvon in South Goa. This would resolve the problem of dust pollution from unloading and loading iron ore by railway and trucks in Curchorem town. A sleepy village of about 2,000 people, Shelvon is a junction of railway and road terminals where the State Government will acquire and give land to South Western Railways to put up the facility, in consortium with Goan mining companies.

This facility, proposed to be built with an investment of about Rs 320 crore, would be monitored by the Union Environment Ministry, Mr de Souza said, and indicated the possibility of State Government participation in the consortium through equity by means of land.

In the case of coal dust, Mr de Souza said apart from changing the coal berths at the MPT in response to local fishermen's demand, the MPT had agreed to put in place a mechanised method to load and unload coal in wagons that are to be covered fully.

The system would be dedicated to the nation by the Union Minister for Surface Transport, Mr T.R. Baalu, on September 22. It had been provided by South West Port Ltd.

Article E-Mail :: Comment :: Syndication :: Printer Friendly Page