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Mumbai Port gets more time to clean up its act on coal

No government agency wants to accept responsibility for the 1.5 lakh metric tonnes of coal that have formed toxic mountains along Mumbai's eastern seafront, devastating the environment and affecting the health of residents. Mumbai Port Trust (MbPT), which has been handling coal for around 10 years, uses archaic and unscientific methods to scoop, dump and carry it, with coal spilling onto roads and dust flying thick and fast across the area. The port trust has received complaints over its coal handling operations for close to a decade. In fact, an environmentalist and a politician sought to prevent it from handling coal.

The port trust's 'consent to operate', issued by the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB), expired in September 2014. Banker Meera Sanyal and retired vice admiral I C Rao moved the Bombay high court, seeking to prevent the pollution regulator from renewing it. The court told MPCB to hear the matter. Nine months later, MPCB has, based on its site visit in April, pointed out flaws in the port trust's coal handling operations. While the report makes recommendations, MPCB officials say they will conduct another hearing where, based on the port trust's short-term and long-term measures to minimize pollution in the area, a decision will be taken on renewing the 'consent to operate' order. Activists are upset that despite evidence against the port trust's handling of coal, and warnings over several years, it is being given more time to comply with environmental norms.

Residents from the area sufferer from respiratory ailments; the phlegm they cough up is black. Students at a maritime college complain of coal lodged in their lungs. Koli fisherfolk now catch dead crabs and mollusks. Warehouses in the area are losing business and pharmaceuticals don't want to store sensitive equipment in a place full of coal.

Port trust officials say they would like to shift.

While MPCB's report recommends mechanizing coal handling and reducing storage sites, port trust authorities say mechanization is not economically viable.

Shipping ministry officials wash their hands of the port trust's coal handling operations.

source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com