PANAJI
While maintaining that the actual cargo handled at its Berths 5, 6 and 7 and Mooring Dolphins has not exceeded 11 million tonnes per annum (MTPA) in any year despite much higher long-term coal traffic projections made, the Mormugao Port Authority (MPA) has informed the National Green Tribunal (NGT) that there is no proposal to expand or create new berths for coal handling.
At the same time, an ICMR health study commissioned by Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB) in November 2024 to assess health-related aspects is still under progress, with the authority informing the tribunal that the study has not yet been completed. It also stated that coal traffic projections are expected to decline beyond 2040. The submission, made earlier this month, was made in an appeal filed challenging the environmental and CRZ clearance granted for the ‘Deepening of Approach Channel for Cape-size Vessels’ of the Mormugao Port navigation channel in July 2025.
The MPA has referred to the Sagarmala 2016 projections, which had envisaged coal traffic at Mormugao Port reaching 42.1 MTPA under the base scenario and 49.2 MTPA under the optimistic scenario by 2035. However, the authority has told the tribunal that these were forecasts and were not realistic or scientifically applicable to the port’s actual coal-handling operations. The authority has also stated that the port has a total terminal capacity of 63.4 MTPA, with the rated capacity of the coal terminal at Berth 7 at 13.7 MTPA and Berth 6 at 17.4 MTPA. “MPA does not have any terminals with facility to handle coal as projected in the Master Plan Report, neither has MPA any plan to expand or create any new berths or terminals to enhance coal handling. Therefore the mere perception of the Appellants that MPA will handle coal, coke to the extent of forecasted quantity provided in Sagarmala Report is not realistic,” the MPA said.
As per the MPA submission, the consented capacity at Berth 6 is 5.5 MTPA, while Berth 7 has a consented capacity of 5.2 MTPA, both subject to quarterly and seasonal caps. This amounts to a combined consented capacity of 10.7 MTPA at the two berths. The Mooring Dolphins are subject to a separate monthly cap of one lakh metric tonnes during May to October, according to the submission. The MPA has further referred to the Master Plan 2047, which projects coal and coke traffic for 2029-30 at 19.60 million tonnes under the realistic scenario, 11.68 million tonnes under the pessimistic scenario and 23.35 million tonnes under the optimistic scenario. For 2040-47, the corresponding projections are 13.12 million tonnes, 7.87 million tonnes and 15.74 million tonnes. The MPA has said the GSPCB will prescribe the annual handling capacity through the Consent to Operate and monitor pollution arising from the operations.
