Social activists were furious after clearances were given by the Centre to the South West Port Limited (SWPL), acquired by the JSW group in 2022, to enhance its coal handling capacity at Mormugao Port, despite objections raised by Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB). Overriding the GSPCB objections, Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) allowed JSW, a mammoth corporate, to enhance coal handling operations from the existing 7.5 million metric tonnes to 15 million metric tonnes per annum. Karnataka even after not receiving any permissions from the National Board of Wildlife has excavated nearly 5 km channel, to divert the water from Kalasa Nala to Malaprabha basin. Activists have raised a red flag that if the Water Resources Department and the Goa Government is not serious about the issue, Goa will face serious problems including a looming water crisis in the future, since Mhadei is the lifeline of the entire State. Looking at the protests that have been erupting in Goa regarding government’s policies on various critical issues, there is a feeling of despondency amongst the people. We’ve been witnessing a series of conflicts, arguments, tension and overall dissatisfaction amongst people with the establishment, with regard to their way of life with a sense of deep concern about their future. These issues have been lingering for long, and the government has not been able to resolve any of the grievances.
