Team Goemkarponn
PORVORIM: Alleging that the BJP government is least bothered about the pending green cess amount from companies handling and transporting coal by road from Goa, Leader of Opposition Yuri Alemao demanded that the Government should clarify when this huge amount will be collected.
Heated arguments between Chief Minister Pramod Sawant and Leader of Opposition (LoP) Yuri Alemao were witnessed on Green Cess collection from companies handling coal and petroleum products.
Chief Minister Pramod Sawant said that matter is before SC; State has so far collected 50% cess of Rs 352 cr and that balance will be recovered once Court decides the matter.
“State has so far collected 50% cess of Rs 352 cr and that balance will be recovered once Court decides the matter,” CM informed House
He further said that notices would be issued shortly. With this LoP charged that Rs 1000 cr is due for payment and immediately demanded to withdraw their consent.
LoP Yuri Alemao also demanded inquiry into alleged Green Cess scam and demanded House committee needs to be set up.
Speaker Ramesh Tawadkar urged opposition to maintain decorum of the House to which Opposition said that the scam is worth Rs 8,000 cr.
LoP also said that total Tax demanded under Goa Green Cess Act was Rs 352.20 crores, tax paid is 237. 70 crores.
“Out of this petroleum companies paid Rs 190 crores and coke/coal industry paid mere 47 crore,” he added
Yuri also questioned as to why govt is slow on collecting taxes from coal/coke industry.
Chief Minister Pramod Sawant also said that according to the Supreme Court’s order, 50 percent green tax has been collected from coal transport companies.
“So far 297 crores tax has been collected. Dr. will collect 100 percent tax after the Supreme Court case is settled,” CM said
Opposition also charged that companies like Jindal, JSW etc. have not paid thousands of crores of green tax imposed in 2012 for coal transportation.
“This is a huge scam. Government should investigate the matter by forming a House Committee” the opposition MLAs said
Alemao stated that he has information based on the replies given to his Legislative Assembly Questions which reveal that government has not collected revenue from 2014 onwards towards Goa Rural Improvement and Welfare Cess Act, 2000 from the companies handling and transporting coal in Goa.
“I had raised the issue in the last session of the Goa Legislative Assembly. Although the government earlier tried to attribute non-collection of revenue to the matter pending in the High Court, the documents provided to me exposed the fact that there is no stay from the court on collection of the revenue,” he claimed.
He further said that it is sad that the government acts swiftly against the poor people for defaulting on payment of electricity and water bills. The same government just keeps quiet on crores of revenue receivable from the crony capitalists. This exposes the anti-poor agenda of the BJP government.
