MPT's proposal for mechanised coal handling facility on hold

In a setback to the Mormugao Port Trust, the Goa State Pollution Control Board has deferred the port's proposal to establish mechanised coal and coke handling at its berth, stalling its plans to revive the ailing business.
The GSPCB today asked the MPT to get a comprehensive Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) report gauging the results of starting of this mechanised facility.
The report has to be tabled before the Board, which would then consider giving consent to establish such a facility, GSPCB Chairman Jose Manuel Noronha told reporters today.
Port authorities were banking on this facility to revive its coal and coke handling business which has stopped since September 2012.

The GSPCB had stopped the operations of handling both the commodities at berth number 10 and 11, after the port town witnessed unprecedented coal dust pollution.
The MPT has now moved in for mechanisation of its services on berth number 11 handling two million tones of coal annually. The proposal was moved before GSPCB to give the consent today.

The GSPCB meeting held today also made it mandatory for the apartments with more than 24 flats to have its own sewerage treatment plant (STP) in the state.
"The flats with more than 24 units should necessary have STP henceforth," Noronha said.

The buildings were releasing their sewerage into the septic tanks.
In another significant decision the board also decided to incorporate West Bengal Pollution Control Board regulations, which makes it mandatory for the housing complexes of more than 20,000 square metre to get consent from the board.
The board gave consent to establish two garbage treatment plants one at Saligao and another at Cacora village for the state government.