Vasco: Calling for drastic action, Goa Forward Party President Vijai Sardesai on Sunday proposed a “Strait of Hormuz”-inspired blockade to halt coal handling at Mormugao Port in Vasco.
Sardesai said that the coal handling by the companies like Adani’s have created health issues for the people living in the port town, resulting in impact on health and the economy.
The GFP chief was speaking at Mormugao taluka, which has Vasco port town as a part of it, on Sunday, after inau
Vasco: Calling for drastic action, Goa Forward Party President Vijai Sardesai on Sunday proposed a Strait of Hormuz-inspired blockade to halt coal handling at Mormugao Port in Vasco.
Sardesai said that coal handling by companies like Adani’s has created health issues for people living in the port town, resulting in an impact on health and the economy.
The GFP chief was speaking in Mormugao taluka, which includes Vasco port town, on Sunday after inaugurating the party’s new office there.
Sardesai claimed that the Mormugao Port Authority, which used to provide employment for 5,000 people in direct and indirect ways, now provides employment to only 200.
He stated that handling coal as the main cargo at this port, located in Vasco town, has reduced employment potential and is also severely affecting the health of people living in the town.
No one is benefitting from the coal handling business here. The economy has been affected severely. People are leaving the town because of health issues created due to coal pollution. The only one that benefits from this is the Bharatiya Janata Party, he said, addressing the meeting.
Sardesai said that if he were the Chief Minister, he would have asked all fishing trawlers to block the canal that leads to Mormugao Port.
Mormugao Port is a natural harbour like the Strait of Hormuz. You have seen how Iran got America on its knees by blocking the Strait of Hormuz. That kind of action is required to stop coal handling at Mormugao Port Authority, he said.
Sardesai said that the lungs of people living in Vasco and Mormugao taluka are severely affected due to coal pollution. There is a survey that confirms that people living in these areas have weak lungs, he said, pointing out that the maximum number of people who died due to the COVID-19 pandemic were from Vasco.
There is a record about it. Or else ask State Health Minister Vishwajit Rane to clarify on it, he said, referring to the deaths during COVID-19.
Sardesai said that it is not just the BJP, but the Congress party is also equally responsible for the current coal menace in Vasco. It was their government which brought coal to MPA, he said.
The former Deputy Chief Minister said that coal handling companies have invitations from Krishnapatnam Port in Tamil Nadu. But these companies prefer to use MPA berths for coal handling because it costs them a few hundred rupees less per tonne, Sardesai said.
Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone (APSEZ), JSW South West Port Ltd (SWPL), and Vedanta Limited handle coal at different berths of the Mormugao Port Authority.
gurating party’s new office there.
Sardesai claimed that the Mormugao Port Authority which used to provide employment for 5,000 people, in indirect and direct ways, now has employment only for 200.
He stated that handling of coal as a main cargo at this Port, located in Vasco town, has reduced the employment potential and also is severely affecting the health of the people living in the town.
“No one is benefitting from the coal handling business here. The economy has been affected severely. People are living the town because of health issues created due to coal pollution. The only one that benefits from this is Bharatiya Janata Party,” he said, addressing the meeting.
Sardesai said that if he was the chief minister, he would have asked all the fishing trawlers to block the canal, that leads to Mormugao Port.
Mormugao Port is a natural harbour like Strait of Hormuz. You have seen how Iran got the America on its knees by blocking the Strait of Hormuz. That kind of action is required to be taken to stop coal handling at Mormugao Port authority, he said.
Sardesai that the lungs of people living in Vasco and Mormugao Taluka are severely affected due to coal pollution. There is a survey that confirms that the people living in these areas have weak lungs, he said pointing out that the maximum people who died due to COVID-19 pandemic were from Vasco.
“There is a record about it. Or else ask State health minister vishwajit Rane to clarify on it,” he said, referring to the deaths during COVID-19.
Sardesai said that “it is not just BJP, but the Congress party is also equally responsible for the current coal menace in Vasco. It was their government which brought the coal at MPA, he said.
The former Deputy chief minister said that the coal handling companies have invitation from Krishnapatnam port (in Tamil Nadu). “But these companies prefer to use MPA berths for coal handling because it costs them cheaper by few hundred rupees per tonne,” Sardesai said.
Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone (APSEZ), JSW South West Port Ltd (SWPL) and Vedanta Limited handle coal at different berths of Mormugao Port Authority.
