A heated debate broke out in the Goa Legislative Assembly on Friday over alleged irregularities in coal exports from Mormugao Port Authority (MPA), with the Opposition accusing the state government of enabling illegal operations and neglecting environmental safeguards.
Leader of Opposition Yuri Alemao spearheaded the attack, alleging that firms such as Jindal were exporting coal beyond permitted limits. He raised pointed questions about South West Port Ltd.’s coal and coke handling activities, demanding clarity on berth allotments, permissions issued, green cess collection, and whether the limits set by the Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB) were being breached.
Alemao also claimed that the government had failed to collect a single rupee in green cess from coal handling companies, calling it a serious enforcement lapse. His remarks prompted chaos in the Assembly, with Opposition MLAs storming the Well and forcing a ten-minute adjournment.
In response, Environment Minister Aleixo Sequeira strongly denied the allegations. He stated that neither MPA nor companies like Jindal and Adani had been granted approval by the GSPCB to expand coal handling operations.
Sequeira added that the government had implemented strict pollution control measures, including domes over coal stockpiles, enclosed conveyor systems, and bypass arrangements to minimize dust and emissions during transportation. “These interventions have already improved air quality in Vasco over the past two to three months,” he said, assuring the House that monitoring is ongoing and no environmental norms have been violated.
However, the Opposition remained unconvinced, calling for greater transparency, public access to data on coal handling, and stricter enforcement of environmental regulations. Alemao reiterated that the government must disclose the exact quantities of coal handled, the amount of green cess collected, and the compliance status of all firms operating at the port.