CHENNAI: The Chennai Port Trust (ChPT) has moved the Madras High Court to extend the time granted to shift the dusty cargo like coal and iron ore to Ennore Port, by six more months.A division bench of the HC on May 11 had directed the authorities concerned to shift the dusty cargo to the Ennore Port from October 1. It had also directed that no retrenchment of the workers should take place.In the latest plea, in addition to a review petition filed earlier, ChPT Deputy Conservator MK Sinha contended that two vessels carrying coal were expected in the coming week and as their berthing would be subject to the May 11 order, those vessels would not be able to unload the cargo, which would drain out huge foreign exchange as demurrage.ChPT’s senior advocate P Wilson stated that in compliance of the May 11 order, the ChPT had implemented various pollution-control measures. They included installation of 110 water sprinklers and windscreens in coal yard and roads to prevent transmission of dust. About 10,000 sq.m. bubble structure to store up to 50,000 tonnes of coal without increasing pollution level had been erected at `6 crore. Apart from these, a 5 km-long semi-mechanised coal conveyor system had been installed at a cost of `40 crore to contain pollution.The ChPT had also initiated various other measures to reduce pollution. But they could not be put into use in view of May 11 order of the High Court.
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