The commissioning of the 312 km Hospet-Londa-Tinaighat-Vasco Da Gama railway line doubling project has once again sparked debate on enhanced coal transportation and its adverse impact on Goa’s environment. The Union Railway Ministry explicitly mentions that this project will expedite the transport of coal, and this is where the primary worry centres around, because the people’s worst fears appear to be coming true.
The assertions made by the Railway Ministry are based on the belief that this initiative will improve cargo handling capabilities, with terminal capacities at berths 5A, 6A, 8, and 9 anticipated to rise substantially — reaching up to 19.5 million tonnes per annum following redevelopment. The enlargement of handling capacity at Mormugao Port Authority (MPA) has already been granted environmental approvals. The writing is on the wall.
Coal handling at the port has remained steady at around 9.5 million tonnes between 2018 and 2023, and assurances by Chief Minister Pramod Sawant in 2020 to cap it at 50 per cent have failed. The worry, however, is Mormugao Port's projected coal handling of 42.1 million tonnes by 2035. The approved expansion plans by the Ministry of Environment, Forests, and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) have encountered legal challenges and public protests, emphasising the environmental hazards of increased coal dust pollution and harmful emissions. The ongoing petition at the Bombay High Court in Goa reflects fears that the port’s expansion would jeopardise the delicate ecological balance and threaten public health. That seems to be the last line of defence.
Opponents assert that official guarantees — such as Chief Minister Pramod Sawant’s assertion that coal handling will remain within permissible limits — ring hollow in light of the developments on the ground. The port's capacity has already seen a significant increase, a fact that has been admitted on the floor of the recently concluded Assembly session. The expansion in coal logistics suggests a future increase, and the project's connection to the railway expansion inherently points to a rise in coal movement, and hence the apprehensions are well-founded.
The opposition’s doubts are exacerbated by the Supreme Court’s 2022 ruling, which annulled prior environmental clearances due to insufficient impact evaluations and the potential for ecological damage. The court had mandated a re-examination of the project, stressing the necessity for thorough assessments of biodiversity, particularly in protected regions such as Bhagwan Mahaveer Wildlife Sanctuary and Mollem National Park. This legal framework highlights the ongoing environmental vulnerability and the threat of irreversible harm.
Moreover, the political dialogue reflects a fundamental worry that the project is motivated by vested commercial interests — particularly those of corporations related to coal and port expansions— rather than the developmental needs of the region. Allegations of "selling out" and betrayal of local communities resonate with critics, who perceive the project as a means to transform Goa into a “coal corridor,” jeopardizing its tourism and ecological preservation.
The pledges of development and boosting tourism pale out when one sees the broader picture. The economic expansion and regional connectivity become secondary, and the potential of the project to worsen pollution and threaten biodiversity takes the spotlight. Mere assurances will not help because it is the “front engine” that decides the course. So, stop promising and start engaging. There is no reason to disbelieve the Union Railway Ministry’s statement that double tracking will speed coal transportation.
