Parliament Question: Environmental Clearance for Handling of Coal/Coke

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2346 TO BE ANSWERED ON 03.08.2026 Environmental Clearance for Handling of Coal/Coke 2346. SHRI CAPTAIN VIRIATO FERNANDES: Will the Minister of Environment, Forest and Climate Change be pleased to state: (a) whether handling of coal/coke at a Mooring Dolphin forming part of an existing Major Port situated within the Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) requires prior Environmental Clearance under the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Notification, 2006, if so, the details thereof; (b) whether commencement of cargo handling operations at a new berth, jetty, mooring dolphin or similar facility within an existing port also requires prior Environmental Clearance, irrespective of whether the port already possesses an Environmental Clearance for other facilities, if so, the details thereof; (c) whether the Government has granted any Environmental Clearance specifically permitting coal/coke handling at the Mooring Dolphins of the Mormugao Port Authority, Goa and if so, the details thereof; (d) if not, whether such operations would amount to a violation of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 and the EIA Notification, 2006; and (e) if so, the action taken by the Government thereon? ANSWER MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE (SHRI KIRTI VARDHAN SINGH) (a) to (e) The Government of India has issued Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) Notification, 2006 under the powers conferred by sub-section (1) and clause (v) of sub-section (2) of section 3 of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986. As per the provision of EIA Notification, 2006, construction of new projects or activities or the expansion or modernization of existing projects or activities listed in the Schedule to this notification entailing capacity addition with change in process and/or technology shall be undertaken in any part of India only after the prior environmental clearance from the Central Government or as the case may be, by the State Level Environment Impact Assessment Authority, duly constituted by the Central Government under sub-section (3) of section 3 of the said Act, in accordance with the procedure specified in the EIA Notification. In so far as appraisal of a project from the environmental perspective is concerned, prior assessment of environmentalimpacts and risk forms the basis for grant of Environmental Clearance. The project is rigorously appraised by an independent Expert Appraisal Committee (EAC), which examines its components, cargo type and capacity, berth capacity and handling facilities, environmental impacts, risk assessment and mitigation measures, and may prescribe additional project- specific conditions. Based on the EAC's recommendations, the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change grants Environmental Clearance subject to specific and general terms and conditions. Any project or activity undertaken in violation of the provisions of the EIA Notification, 2006 attracts the penal provisions under Section 15 of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, and the rules made thereunder. The operation of projects or activities is regulated under the provisions of the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 and the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981. Accordingly, no industry, operation or process shall commence or continue its operation without obtaining a valid Consent to Operate (CTO) from the concerned State Pollution Control Board (SPCB) or Pollution Control Committee (PCC), as applicable. The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has granted following Environmental and CRZ clearance in favour of Mormugao Port Authority, Goa (i) Terminal capacity enhancement at Berth 5A-6A for coal and coal products, Iron Ore and Limestone including unitised and steel products vide letter dated 11.01.2023, (ii) Redevelopment of berths 8, 9 and barge berth vide letter dated 06.07.2023 and (iii) Deepening of approach channel for capsize vessel vide letter dated 21.07.2025. As per the information provided by the Mormugao Port Authority, they have obtained Consent to Operate (CTO) from the Goa State Pollution Control Board for handling various categories of cargo, including dry bulk cargo, break bulk cargo, coal and coke, at Mooring Dolphins 1, 2 and 3. However, no Consent to Operate has been issued by the Goa State Pollution Control Board in respect of Mooring Dolphins 4, 5 and 6, and accordingly, these facilities remain unutilized. *****