Uproar over coal operations at MPA

The Opposition MLAs storm the Well of the House shouting slogans over coal handling issue at MPA.

PANAJI
The House on Friday witnessed uproar over coal handling operations at Mormugao Port Authority (MPA) berths and the government failure to recover crores of green cess payment from the coal handling firms South West Port Ltd owned by Jindal Steel Works (JSW) and Adani Pvt Ltd.

While the State government maintained that no permissions are granted to increase coal handling at MPA and an amount of Rs 133 cr green cess collected, the Opposition rushed to the Well of the House shouting slogans of “Amka Kolso Naka” (“We don’t want coal”), prompting a 10-minute adjournment— second such disruption during the ongoing monsoon session.

LoP Yuri Alemao raised the issue during Question Hour, seeking clarity on aspects surrounding permissions to increase coal handling, cess paid, and whether operations had exceeded the limits set by the Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB). Pointing to the decade old figures, Alemao said that the MPA has doubled its permissible capacity of 5 million metric tonnes. He also charged that MoEF&CC has granted Environment Clearance (EC) to MPA to increase coal handling capacity.

Responding to the query, Environment Minister Aleixo Sequeira admitted to the figures of exceeding capacity. “I agree with the figures; the fact is that the MPT did allowed,” he said.

“But till date the GSPCB has not granted them any permission to increase the coal handling capacity because we have asked them to implement various measures including Dome to store the coal,” he said explaining that trucks laden with coal are now using bypass road for transportation and that the pollution level of Vasco city has come down drastically.

The Minister said that he will be in position to provide air quality data only after two-three months since the new system has been in operation just recently.  

Sequeira informed the House that the government is considering legal action against the coal handling firms, who have got relief from the High Court on technical grounds. He added that the relevant file has been sent to the Advocate General (AG) for his opinion.

“We are considering challenging the order in the Supreme Court. But two years have already been lapsed since HC passed its verdict,” he explained.

The delay in moving the Supreme Court triggered the Opposition who charged them for failing to take action against the coal handling firms and also to recover cess.

Chief Minister Pramod Sawant explained that Goa is the only State to have imposed Green Cess and that Rs 133 cr have been recovered.