PORVORIM: Leader of Opposition Yuri Alemao on Tuesday accused the government of siding with the coal lobby, which he claims is destroying Goa.
Speaking during the discussion on demands for Environment, Law, and Ports Administration, Alemao stated, “The government seems to be the coal lobby itself, as the Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB) is going easy on coal handlers.”
MLA Vijai Sardesai further accused the government of sacrificing Goa’s well-being for coal transportation. “The government is painting Goa with coal, finishing the state for the sake of coal transport,” Sardesai said.
He added, “Coal has become the most powerful currency in the state. The government is compromised, clearly colluding with the coal mafia. The health of Goans is being jeopardised, and we acknowledge this. The coal mafia is running the State, which is damaging our reputation. Mormugao is sitting on a time bomb.”
Sardesai also highlighted that in May this year, the Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority (GCZMA) recommended to the Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change the deepening of the channel at Mormugao Port Authority to accommodate cape-size vessels. This would allow ships with a Deadweight Tonnage (DWT) of 1.85 lakh to dock, instead of the current 75,000 DWT, benefiting companies like Jindal.
“This has been done solely to facilitate the import of coal to Goa, showing the government’s willingness to bend over backward,” he concluded.