PANAJI
Refuting the recent statement made by Chief Minister Pramod Sawant blaming former Chief Minister Digambar Kamat over a permission given to Mormugao Port Trust (MPT) by Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB) to increase coal handling capacity, Congress has dared Sawant to provide evidence supporting his allegations.
“We dare the Chief Minister to produce evidence that then Chief Minister Digambar Kamat had any role to play in granting those permissions. Let Sawant show guts and dare to produce documentary evidence to prove that Congress government under Digambar Kamat allowed MPT to increase its coal handling capacity,” stated Congress President Girish Chodankar.
Chodankar said that Chief Minister Sawant has developed a habit of blaming others for the gross failures of his government. “He has either no knowledge of how administration functions or is influenced by the corrupt practice of BJP of politicising each and every independent institution. A Chief Minister must know that GSPCB does not come under the Goa government and the local administration has no control over its decisions,” Chodankar pointed out.
Congress has also called upon Sawant to explain the permission granted by GSPCB in its 142nd meeting held on February 28, 2020 to M/s South West Port Ltd and M/s Adani Mormugao Goa Port Pvt Ltd to increase the capacity of coal handling at MPT. “The decision of the GSPCB is a proof that the BJP government is patronising the coal mafia in Goa,” the GPCC president charged.
Congress further recalled that at the meeting of the MPT board of trustees held on April 21, 2020, the MPT had resolved and congratulated the Ministry of Shipping for its initiative to increase the capacity of coal handling at berth no. 6 to 5.5 MTPA and berth no. 7 to 5.2 MTPA to which Consent to Operate (CTO) was granted by GSPCB.
Chodankar termed the recent outburst of CM Sawant as a reflection of the frustration building up within the ruling party with Goans openly confronting the government over its failure to protect the State’s environment and interests.
