Navlakhi Port allowed to transport existing coal

However, fresh coal import shipments are not allowed to berth at the port

Even as Gujarat Pollution Control Board (GPCB) keeps the coal imports suspended at Navlakhi Port due to air pollution, the port has been allowed to transport existing coal piled up at the port to various parts of the country.

Sources at the Gujarat Maritime Board (GMB) informed that GPCB has allowed transporting the existing coal from the port, while fresh coal import shipments are not allowed to berth at the port.

"The closure of the port remains in force, but the port has been allowed to transport the existing coal piled up at the port to the other parts of the country. There was nearly 700,000 tonnes of coal stranded at the port after the closure notice by GPCB early last month," a GMB source informed.

Government officials claimed that the decision to allow coal transportation from Navlakhi port, to other parts of the country - where it was destined - as a fallout of the representation made by the Uttar Pradesh government for the same.

"The UP government had approached state government to allow transportation of coal, which had already landed at the port. Most of this quantity was meant to be the fuel for power plants in UP and northern India," said a Gujarat government source.

However, GPCB officials did not confirmed about having any communication from UP government. The member secretary, GPCB could not be reached for comments.

"We have allowed non-coal cargo movement at the port. Also, existing coal at the port can be transported out. But coal cargo imports will remain suspended till the port meets the prescribed limit for air pollution," said a GPCB official. The official also informed that salt exports will also be resumed from the port.

GPCB has served the closure notice to the port on May 10 after the air pollution levels at the port continue to remain higher than the set limit.

The power distributor, Pashchim Gujarat Vij Company Limited (PGVCL) had also cut off power lines to the Navlakhi port following the closure order by the GPCB.

Navlakhi Port handles around 6-7 million tonnes of coal annually had increased significantly. Navlakhi is an all-weather lighterage working port located in Gulf of Kutch and about 50 kms from Morbi in Rajkot district.