Team Herald
PANJIM: A day after Chief Minister Dr Pramod Sawant accused the then Congress-led dispensation of allowing coal handling and its expansion in the State, the opposition Congress has urged the incumbent BJP government to withdraw permissions for the same.
Admitting that the then Digambar Kamat-led government may have allowed nearly 10 million metric tonnes of coal to be handled at the Mormugao Port Trust (MPT), the Congress leaders including South Goa Member of Parliament Francisco Sardinha and MLA Luizinho Faleiro demanded that the BJP government should withdraw all the permissions granted for coal handling since people are protesting against it.
The Chief Minister had on Friday accused Kamat of giving permission for the expansion of coal handling capacity twice during his tenure between 2007 and 2012. He had even said that the permission was granted when the Model Code of Conduct for State election was in force. Sawant claimed to have the “documentary evidence” to prove the allegations.
Sardinha said the permission for coal handling to Jindal and Adani was given for local consumption. “Though the Congress allowed it…we admit…Let your government change the decision. Withdraw the permission granted since the people are opposing it,” he said.
Sardinha said the BJP can take the decision in the interest of people of Goa.
Former CM Luizinho Faleiro said the Congress did granted permission for handling of around 10 million metric tonnes of coal to Adani and Jindal. “But this BJP government has the power to change the decision and withdraw the consent granted. There is no point in blaming Congress, when you are going to let it continue,” he said.
Faleiro said Sesa Goa plant in the State needs very limited coal and the same can be permitted. “But, we don’t want Goa to be a coal transportation hub. People are opposing it. Respect their sentiments and show that Congress allowed and now BJP has stopped it,” he said.
There is simmering protesting against the double tracking of South Western Railway line and other two infrastructure projects passing through the protected areas of Mollem. The protestors, including the Congress, have been alleging that the move is to make Goa a coal hub.
