MARGAO: Power Minister Nilesh Cabral, while speaking on behalf of the State govenrment has said that the Government will not make Goa a coal hub for transportation. He added that in the next 15 days, the Government will bring it in written form about capping the coal at MPT to the present quantity and completely stopping any increase in handling.
Cabral added that there is an apprehension of Goans claiming coal is being brought to Goa.
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Cabral, who is also the Environment Minister, said the BJP Government is firm that Goa will not be a coal hub in any circumstances. While clarifying on the coal handling details that are making rounds Cabral said “I don’t say no to the allegations made by the NGO’s. Sagarmala is a Central government program where all the ports were put under study. What is envisaged for MPT and the documents needed for the same are put up on the portal and that data is being relied upon. A consultant was appointed to conduct the study and they had only suggested saying what can be done for the port. This is not the decision of the Government but a suggestion.”
“We will put a capping on the coal being brought to Goa in the next 15 days. We will put the apprehensions of the people of Goa to rest and this is a commitment from the Government of Goa” said Cabral.
When asked about the connection between the double tracking of the South Western Railway Line and coal, Cabral said, “We are a developing nation and can’t remain developing forever. We have to be a developed nation. Wherever there is a rail network it is a common thing to have two tracks for up and down. That doesn’t mean the Central government only wants that to get or transport coal” he said.
Cabral added that Adani and JSW have coal operations at the MPT port.
“That coal goes to the JSW Plant in Hospet Bellary and Adani is a trader who trades in Coal. Having said, over 22 thousand pensioners and 1,400 employees of the MPT are given their employment and dues from this coal operation. Still we are firm that the quantities of coal will be capped to the present tonnage at MPT” he said.
On the power line project, Cabral said that it is true that Goa has a lot of power but in the future, at a consumption growth rate of 5% per annum, Goa won’t have enough power.
“We are targeting 100 Megawatts of power generation through means of solar power and process is underway,” he added.
