Panjim: Goencho Ekvott (GE) has demanded scrapping of the land acquisition process for ‘the double tracking project from Vasco to Hospet’ , the ‘expansion of national highways’ and the ‘transmission;Line through Mollem Sanctuary’ planned to make Goa Coal transportation hub for South Maharashtra and Northern Karnataka Industry.
GE, which met Chief Minister Pramod Sawant submitted a memorandum to him and warned that their demands be met by November 14 or they would hit the streets.
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Captain Viriato Fernandes said the CM gave them a patient hearing and said he will look into the matter positively.
“Scrutiny of documents available under the Ministry of Shipping / Indian Ports Association for the final report for Sagarmala, which clearly states that MPT will be connected to industries in South Maharashtra and Northern Karnataka through road, rail, inland and coastal waterways. The report has listed 30 projects in Goa to facilitate coal to the industries in neighbouring States. Such mega projects will definitely destroy the environment, the health, the beauty of our pristine towns, beaches and heritage, our rivers and sea beds thus sounding the death knell to Goa’s sustainable economies including fisheries, tourism, agriculture and forestry, thereby robbing livelihoods of many local communities,” the memorandum says.
It says the double tracking of railways, NH 17B & 4A 4-laning, reclamation of wetlands & building of jetties & other infrastructure is only for coal thus destroying our villages, displacing local communities and health of people of Goa though coal pollution.
“The 3 linear mega projects are to be executed in Goa of South Western Railway (SWR) double track from Vasco to Hospet, expansion of NH 4A and high tension power transmission line passing through wildlife sanctuary of the Western Ghats which is an ecologically sensitive area already declared by Dr K Kasturirangan in 2017. You are very much aware that the Western Ghats is a ‘UNESCO World Heritage Site’ and is one of the 8 hot-spots of biological diversity in the world; and in which Goa is located in the central Western Ghats and which is bio-geographically, an important area and such mega projects in which cutting down of 68,814 trees in ecologically sensitive area will be the final nail in the coffin for people of Goa,” it says.
They further added that the during the COVID-19 pandemic, the proposed laying of 400kv transmission lines within a protected forest area and a tiger reserve were given clearances by the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change which has granted Stage-I [in-principle] approval under the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980.
“Work relating to another mega project relating to SWRdouble-tracking from Castle-rock to Vasco-Da-Gama has been vehemently opposed by the people of Goa time and again. SWR officials have failed to provide the local self-governing bodies any sort of approved plans or survey plans to justify their construction activity,” the memorandum says.
It also added that many scientific studies have proved that mass scale deforestation and destruction of the natural environment for large scale and unsustainable ‘development’ are one of the primary causes for release of deadly pathogens amongst the public.
“Time and again, Goa is being used for vested interests when the fact is that Goa is too small a State to contain such large-scale destructive projects that will swallow our precious land resources. Goa is smaller than the size of the Sindhudurg district in Maharashtra and 52 times smaller than the State of Karnataka and it appears that the Centre and its allies in the State have no respect for Goa and its people,” GE said.
They added that presently at the SWR, in order to transport coal approximately 472 wagons are overloaded with coal per day.
“By virtue of doubling the tracks, the number of rakes wills probably double causing more dust and misery. Shouldn’t we as citizens have a right to voice our dissent against these projects that affect our very health and land? This destruction cannot be disguised as and termed as development and is against the voices of our people,” they said.
GE demanded that the land acquisition officer and the Mormugao Deputy Collector immediately stops the process of land acquisition for the special project, namely Hospet-Hubli-Tinaighat-Vasco-da-Gama doubling.
They demanded that Sawant directs/ passes executive orders to the Railway authorities to stop the work on the railway tracks in Goa related to the double tracking.
“Stop work on expansion of four-laning of National Highway 4A in the Anmod–Mollem section and high tension power transmission line passing through the Bhagwan Mahaveer Wildlife Sanctuary and Mollem National Park in South Goa,” they said.
They demanded that the CM raises objections to the Major Ports Authorities Bill 2020 that will give absolute powers and autonomy to Mormugao Port Trust and instead hand over MPT jurisdiction to Captain Of Ports Department.
