Team Herald
PORVORIM: The coal issue was racked up in the State Legislative Assembly on Tuesday as well, with Congress’ Mormugao MLA Sankalp Amonkar claiming that coal is an inter-related subject involving several departments.
Speaking during the cut-motion on demands for grants for Transport Department, Amonkar replied to Chief Minister Pramod Sawant’s dig about repeated discussion on coal transportation.
“In the morning, the Chief Minister said that I speak only about coal. It is true that we see only coal. The constituency I come from, I can see only coal. We step out of the house and we see coal. As we speak on transport demands, we have to speak about coal, because it is related to all the departments be it Transport, Environment, Health, Sagarmala, linear projects, etc.,” he said as he opposed the motion.
Claiming that ongoing operations at Mormuago Port Authority were largely affecting the residents, Amonkar alleged that trucks carrying coal for transportation are usually overloaded.
“There are so many vehicles moving in and out of MPA. These trucks ply through Mormugao, Dabolim, Canacona and beyond. These trucks are moving everywhere,” he said, indicating coal pollution. Alleging an overflow of coal from the trucks, he urged the authorities to set up a proper mechanism to monitor these vehicles and that the Transport Department should not blindly rely on data from MPA.
Speaking on the ongoing taxi issue, Amonkar asked the government to ensure tourist taxi operators are not subjected to injustice by the former as these operators have abided by the government mandatory order for fitment of digital meters.