Team Herald
PANJIM: The Opposition on Friday launched a scathing attack in the Assembly on the government, with Leader of the Opposition Yuri Alemao claiming that “thousand of crores” had been lost in the alleged scam in the collection of green cess from companies importing coke and coal into the Mormugao port.
However, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant maintained that over 50% of the green cess had been collected in line with Supreme Court directives.
Alemao further accused the government of failing to issue demand notices and collect taxes from large companies such as Vedanta, Adani, and JSW. He also raised concerns about the reduction in green cess from 2% to 0.5%, which he claimed resulted in a significant loss to the state’s exchequer. “This is a mega fraud amounting to Rs 8,000 crore,” Alemao charged, calling on the government to withdraw the consent to operate granted to these companies and demanding an inquiry into the alleged scam. He also asked for the formation of a
House Committee to investigate the matter.
The LoP, who raised the issue in a starred question, claimed that the total cess demanded under the Goa Green Cess Act amounted to over Rs 352.2 crore, but only Rs 237.7 crore had been collected.
Of the total amount collected, petroleum companies contributed Rs 190 crore, while the coke and coal industries only paid Rs 47 crore, he said, further pointing out that Rs 114.49 crore in green cess remained uncollected, he said
“Over the last decade, 102.46 metric tonnes of coal and coke have been imported into Goa, yet the government has been slow in collecting taxes from these companies,” Alemao said, questioning the government’s approach.
Apart from asserting that over 50% green cess had been collected, the CM’s response noted that the matter was still pending before the Apex Court. Sawant clarified that the assessment and collection of green cess were being carried out in accordance with the provisions of the Goa Cess on Products and Substances Causing Pollution (Green Cess) Act, 2013, and other relevant legislation, including the Goa Value Added Tax Act, 2005. He assured the House that the government was committed to recovering the pending cess.
Five bills rushed through at end of day
Team Herald
PANJIM: The Assembly on Friday passed the Comunidade Amendment Bill, 2025, defeating opposition amendments. Revenue Minister Atanasio Monserrate explained that Article 31 A prohibits the conversion of Comunidade land for purposes other than the one originally proposed. As part of the debate, Goa Forward Party MLA Vijai Sardesai demanded that land allotted to Zuari Agro for industrial purposed should be reverted. He alleged that the land was converted into settlement and sold to a builder, who has developed the land and selling plots.
The other Bills passed were the Goa Provision of Water Supply (Amendment) Bill, Goa VAT (Amendment) Bill, Goa Clinical Establishments (Registration and Regulation) Bill, the Goa Goods and Services Tax (GST) (Amendment) Bill. The government withdrew the Goa Media Persons and Media Institutions (Prevention of Violence and Damage or Loss to Property) Bill, 2022, which sought to protect journalists from violence or loss to property. All of these bills were passed even as the Rules 141, 143 and 156
relating to introduction, consideration and passing of bills were suspended in the Assembly.