SATURDAY, APRIL 20, 2024
Team Herald
PONDA: Villagers of Borim, Durbhat, Undir in Ponda taluka on Friday said they don’t want their villages to become another Vasco, where people are suffering various diseases due to coal pollution.
After the agitation against the proposed railway double tracking, they fear that the government permitting transportation of coal by rail, water and road would have an adverse impact on their village environment besides their khazan lands would also be destroyed.
Borim sarpanch Sunil Sawakar said, “The panchayat would oppose the proposed jetty at Barze near the Borim bridge where once a ferry service was operating. Two years back the Union Minister had in a letter urged the Borim panchayat for the requirement of the old ferry ramp so that it could be used for passenger transportation.”
He added, “We were of the opinion that if the jetty is for passengers then there was no objection to it, but now we hear that with double tracking, coal transportation will be undertaken and if a jetty is constructed at Barze we will strongly oppose it. Similarly if large scale coal is transported than the government will acquire khazan land for coal stacking and related activities which will destroy the environment of our villages.”
The deputy sarpanch said, “Borim locals are opposed to Barze jetty if it is meant for coal transportation. This will destroy our environment. We know Vascoitees are suffering due to coal pollution and we don't want it to happen to our village.”
According to Sawakar, a new six-lane bridge at Angadi, Borim has been proposed along with four-lane road. “All this appears to be done to facilitate coal transportation. If coal transportation starts by water and road, several trucks would ply through our village causing hardship to us.” Sawakar said.
He added, “We don’t want to destroy our village for development of 10 per cent people and let 90 per cent of the population suffer due to vested interests of politicians who work for big private players.”
Gurudas Naik from the village of Undir, said, “It is time Goans and coastal villages along Zuari river wake up and protest the plans. Besides the river, coal will also be transported through the NH and besides a road connecting Undir-Kavlem to NH is also proposed. However, people are in the dark about the government plans.”
Surel Tilve also expressed fears that the coastal villages in Ponda will become a coal transportation hub.
He said, “As per the Sagarmala Report by 2030 there is target of transporting 50 million tonnes of coal and since MPT does not have the capacity more jetties would come up and the khazan land in coastal villages of Ponda will be acquired for coal stacking. Hence the Government wants to bring five to six rivers under the River Navigation Act. When these rivers come under the Act our fishing activities will stop and there is a possibility that jetties would be constructed along the khazan lands for stacking coal in coastal villages of Undir, Durbhat, Rasoi, Durbhat, Shiroda for transportation till Savordem Railway Station.”
