Cong to raise Mundra port issue in Parliament

Congress will raise in Parliament during the Monsoon Session the issues of Adani Port and SEZ Ltd. (APSEZ) being spared a hefty fine of ₹ 200 crores for environmental damage during construction of Mundra port and the alleged ₹ 20,000 crore GSPC scam when Narendra Modi was Gujarat Chief Minister.

Congress spokesman Jairam Ramesh alleged that the Modi  Government had removed the restriction on construction and the fine on APSEZ, knowingly to benefit its promoter.

Ramesh, a former Environment Minister, said the erstwhile UPA government had in 2013 imposed a fine of ₹ 200 crores on the company and that the present NDA dispensation has "waived the penalty". Replying to a question, he said the Modi government took this decision at the end of 2015. He claimed that along with waiving the penalty, the government lifted the ban on construction of Mundra North Port.

"We believe in Satyamev Jayate, Modi Govt believes in Adanimev Jayate," he said, taking a dig at the BJP-led dispensation at the Centre for its perceived closeness with the promoter of APSEZ.

Ramesh also targeted the government, alleging it has given 5,000 acres of forest land to the Adanis for a coal mine project in Sarguja district, ignoring provisions of the Forest Rights Act.

He claimed that this has been done despite the fact that the Supreme Court had ruled that without the approval of Gram Sabha, there can be no mining.

"They are acting against the law, the Supreme Court and the Adivasi communities," he alleged.

Ramesh said Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi would launch a six-month campaign in Chhattisgarh, Odisha, Jharkhand, Maharashtra, Telangana and Andhra Pradesh on the "betrayal" on the Forest Rights Act.

On the Mundra issue, the Environment Ministry in a statement had yesterday claimed that its action in the matter was "much more stringent" than asking for ₹ 200 crores from APSEZL.

The alleged GSPC scam involves Gujarat State Petroleum Corporation (GSPC) Ltd., which was established in 2005, when Modi was chief minister of the state.