Panaji, Apr 23: Goa’s pollution controlling agencies have asked both the ports not to allow the ships arriving from Japan to de-ballast the water fearing radiations.
 
Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB) has issued strict instructions to Mormugao Port Trust (MPT) and state owned Panaji minor port to ensure that the ships which had called on Japan’s ports should not be allowed to release their water in their jurisdiction.
 
After the GSPCB directive, a huge ship which had arrived from Japan has been made to anchor at the outer port and not allowed to enter the port jurisdiction.
 
The alarm from the pollution control agency came after state director of Science and Environment informed about a communication received from South District administration that two ships which had called on the Japanese port were likely to enter Goa ports.
 
“We immediately issued directions for both the ports,” GSPCB Chairman Simon de Souza said adding that they don’t have equipments to check the radiations in the water.
 
De Souza said that the precautionary measures are taken to ensure that the water is not contaminated with the radiations as Japan is already facing nuclear crisis.
 
He said that after the instructions, one of the ship, which had called on Japan port was quarantined at the outer limits of the port.
 
“The ship agent has presented before me the letters from International Maritime Organisations which has clarified that there is no fear of radiations and there is no need of screening of the ship water,” de Souza stated.
 
The agent has also claimed that the ship has already deballasted the water off-Singapore coast on their way to Goa and refilled with the new water.
 
De Souza said that the GSPCB will take the call on the matter only after examining the documents provided by the agent.