The Goa government has issued the demand notices to 19 companies to pay up cess dues amounting to Rs208.73 Crore for 2014-18 periods.

As per the sources the notices have been issued at a time when the Goa government is facing a severe revenue crunch because mining work has stopped, there is a slowdown in tourism, and GST earnings are lower than expected, forcing the state to resort to unprecedented borrowings.

The government levies a cess of Rs50 per metric tonne on coal or coke transport via the state. Between 2014 and 2018, 42 million metric tonnes of coal and coke was transported through Goa with JSW Steel ferrying the most, at 31 million metric tonnes during the period.

JSW Steel also owes the state government Rs156.35 crore, making up more than three-fourths of the total dues demanded by the state government from the 19 companies. Partner company JSW Energy too owes the state government Rs12.66 crore having transported 2.5 million metric tonnes of coal during the same period, being the second largest importer. Fresh demand notices were sent to the JSW Group by the government earlier this month, giving the company fifteen days to pay up their dues.