Locals accuse government of prioritising industry over environment; demand immediate scrapping of proposed jetty project in Xelvona and Assolda
A large and determined crowd of residents from Xelvona gathered outside the office of Curchorem MLA Nilesh Cabral on Saturday, strongly protesting against the proposed coal-handling jetty at Odar and Xelvona in the Assolda Village Panchayat area.
Shouting slogans like “We don’t want coal!”, the protesters accused the government of prioritising heavy-industrial projects over the environment, livelihoods, and public health. In a notable development, Curchorem BJP Mandal president Manoj Naik joined the protest, showing solidarity with the residents.
According to locals, the proposed jetty on the Zuari River shoreline near Xelvona/Curchorem will cause coal dust pollution, heavy vehicle movement, worsening air quality, and disruptions to fishing and farming communities.
Locals raise red flag over clearances
Protesters cited documents obtained under the Right to Information (RTI) Act, revealing that preliminary NOCs were granted without valid panchayat clearance. Despite the Assolda Village Panchayat passing a resolution rejecting the project, the tendering and approval process allegedly ignored the decision.
Local activist Aditya Dessai said,
“We have secured through the RTI Act that preliminary NOCs were granted without any valid panchayat clearance. The Assolda Village Panchayat passed a resolution rejecting this project, but the NOC process ignored that local democratic decision.”
Dessai also highlighted another nearby project—a partially built jetty on government land near Curchorem—that reportedly received multiple environmental NOCs during Cabral’s tenure as Environment Minister. He warned that this set a precedent for weak regulatory oversight.
Residents submit memorandum
Villagers submitted a memorandum to the MLA’s office demanding that the project be scrapped immediately and no further clearances be granted. Their demands included:
- Full disclosure of all NOCs and environmental assessments
- Transparency in public hearings
- Sustainable alternatives protecting farming, fishing, and public health
The protest comes amid growing unease across Goa’s riverfronts and harbour zones over coal and ore handling, dust pollution, and heavy-vehicle traffic impacting local communities.
MLA Cabral responds
Responding to the protesters, MLA Nilesh Cabral said,
“If people don’t want it, then I also don’t want it. I am always with the people. When I was Environment Minister, my stand was clear—except for MPA, there is no coal in Goa, and I continue to stand by that.”
He added that a proposed railway overbridge was also cancelled based on public demand, and the State Pollution Control Board’s report has been questioned by both the MLA and the panchayat before the SEIAA.
Panchayat’s firm stand
Assolda Sarpanch Custodio Fernandes confirmed that permissions were denied to the project proponent, who had applied to construct four jetties each at Odar and Xelvona.
“The villagers are opposing it because it will cause environmental degradation. Earlier, the proponent was asked to build a small bridge to help villagers cross the railway tracks, but that never happened,” Fernandes said.
Activists link project to larger coal plans
Activist Swapnesh Sherlekar stated,
“The protests cannot be ignored because the Master Plan for coal handling in Goa is on record. The proposed jetty is to serve power and steel plants in border areas of Karnataka that require huge quantities of coal.”
Adding to that, activist Rupesh Shinkre claimed,
“These jetties are part of a larger coal terminal plan under the Sagarmala project. The BJP government is intent on making Goa a coal hub. The South Western Railway tracks pass between the jetty and the proposed terminal, making coal transport extremely convenient.”
Future uncertain
The situation remains fluid. Activists said they would closely monitor any government or company move to advance the jetty’s construction and warned of escalating protests if their demands are not addressed.
