Uttarandhra Rakshana Vedika (URV) has demanded immediate stoppage of coal handling by Visakhapatnam Port Trust (VPT) as it is contributing to Visakhapatnam city getting the dubious distinction of being placed among the highly polluted cities in the country.
Addressing a media conference here on Saturday, URV president S.S. Shiva Sankar alleged that VPT, instead of doing away with coal imports and handling, was increasing coal handling year after year. While the port handled 4.33 million tonnes of coking coal 2016-17, it was 5.76 MTs in 2017-18. He said the stoppage of coal handling at VPT was the only option to stop pollution.
At a time when the Madras Port and the Bombay Port had banned the handling of coal, it was unfortunate that VPT was not concerned about the lives of the citizens, who were suffering due to coal-dust pollution. He said the Goa Assembly had reduced the coal handling in Mormugao Port.
B.K. Joseph, secretary and Maria Das, vice president of Manuel Welfare Association of Gnanapuram, said though high walls were built around the coal stacks at the port, the coal dust was flying higher and the winds coming from the seaside were dissipating it to far flung areas in different directions of the city. Dr. Chalapathi of Amrutha Hrudaya Welfare Association said respiratory and skin diseases, heart ailments and cancers were common in the areas affected by port pollution. They said an agitation on the banner: ‘ban coal transport, save Visakha’ would be launched on June 5 on the occasion of World Environment Day.
