PANAJI: Goa Country Pollution Control Board (GSPCB) on Thursday received a report submitted by Iit-Bombay which has revealed that not only coal handling activities but sea aerosols, dust suspended, biomass, and burning solid waste and dust roads are causes Air pollution in Vasco.
“We will send a report to the High Court,” said GSPCB Chairman Ganesh Shetgaonkar.
The Board held a special meeting to complete the report.
The GSPCB has appointed IIT-Bombay to determine the causes of air pollution in the port city after several agitations to stop handling coal in Mormugao Port Trust (MPT).
Agitator claims that there is coal pollution in the city.
IIT-B suggests preparing an environmental management plan to control air pollution.
However, this study also said that sea aerosols could not be controlled because Vasco was a coastal city.
From the results of the source distribution study, it was observed that vehicle pollution contributions were found higher than dust pollution in the port city.
The contribution of sea aerosol (small particles suspended above sea) is also found higher than dust pollution in all locations.
The main source that affects the quality of air in Khariwada is aerosol of the sea because of the least impact of port-related activities and burning biomass observed on this site.
The results of the source distribution showed a range of 20-30% of the contributions of each of the four main sources including vehicle emissions, sea aerosols, port related activities, and biomass road dust.
Carbon-organic carbon analysis (EC-OC) elements that indicate the contribution of coal handling activities are seen in the form of all other activities, whether it is a port or main city area which is influenced by vehicles, dust suspended again, burning biomass and solid waste, and road sweeping.
Resource distribution studies are carried out on representative samples collected in five locations during the sampling period.
To identify pollutant sources, 100 trials are carried out for all cases and from this case, the best solution of 3 to 7 factors is determined.
The first phase of the report has stated that coal is not the only mineral responsible for air pollution in the area.