Coal news and updates

Mumbai Port to reply to MPCB on PIL by Nov 15

October 28: Mumbai Port Trust will reply by November 15 to the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) in response to a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by a leader of a political party that sought injunction on coal handling at Haji Bunder or at any other land of Mumbai Port’s, a senior official from the port told ICMW.

“The time has been given to MPT to reply to the (the PIL) appeal by November 15… and our advocates are looking into it,” he said.

“They (MPCB) have to hear our case and also their case based on inputs by us …. and till that time coal handling is going on,” he added.

MPCB, on October 14, 2013 had granted an operate order to Mumbai Port Trust for coal handling at Haji Bunder after expiry of the previous operate order on September 30, 2014 and the PIL challenges the same.

According to a copy of Maharashtra High Court’s judgment, “The said consent to operate order is going to expire on September 30, 2014 and the petitioners have therefore prayed for an injunction to restrain the MPCB from renewing/extending the consent to operate beyond September 30, 2014.”

“Accordingly, public interest litigation is disposed of with a direction to MPCB­ (respondent No.3) to treat the memo of this public interest litigation as a representation and to take the same into consideration before taking any decision on the proposal of MPT ­ (respondent No.4) for renewal/extension of the consent to operate order…,” it added.

Meera Sanyal, MP of South Mumbai, had filed the PIL contesting coal handling at Haji Bunder, citing health hazards.