In a powerful message, the Diocesan Com-mission for Ecology (DCE) of the Archdiocese of Goa and Daman on Sunday, reiterat-ed its firm opposition to the double-tracking of the South Western Railway line be tween Hospet and Vasco da Gama, citing ecological de-struction, a Supreme Court (SC) ruling, and persistent public protests across the state. The renewed inter-vention comes in the wake of coal and double-tracking once again grabbing head lines in Goa
Led by Convenor Rev Dr Bolmax Pereira, DCE said the project remains envi-ronmentally destructive and socially unjust, despite re-peated concerns raised by citizens and environmental experts. It recalled that on May 9, 2022, the SC struck down the wildlife clearance granted for the double-track-ing through the Bhagwan Mahaveer Wildlife Sanctuary and Mollem National Park The verdict, based on the findings of the Central Em-powered Committee (CEC), described the project as "in efficient," "unjustified," and "potentially destructive." According to the DCE, the judgment underscored that further expansion would
irreparably harm the West ern Ghats, one of the world's most important biodiversity hotspots and a vital wildlife corridor:
Fr Pereira said these eco-logical concerns were not limited to the protected for-est stretch but also applied to the entire railway line. Pur-suing the project, he argued, ignores the clear warnings of the highest court and expos es Goa's natural heritage to irreversible damage.
The Commission also highlighted the groundswell of public opposition that has accompanied the pro-ject since its inception. It noted that demonstrations, often drawing thousands of Goans, have been reported widely in local and national media "These protests are not isolated events," Fr Perei-ra said. "They represent the collective voice of Goans who know the true cost this pro-ject will impose on our land, our health, and our heritage."
The DCE outlined three major concerns consist ently raised by the people. On public health, it warned that the double-tracking is linked to a significant in-
crease in coal transportation, which would worsen air quality and coal dust pollution, lution, with serious consequences for respira-tory health and for life along the corridor. On cultural heritage, it said the project threatens to demolish ancestral homes, heritage houses and religious structures, all of which are integral to Goa's identity and history. On land acquisition, the Commission criticised what it described as contentious and often forcible takeovers, with several villagers and communidade bodies resisting the loss of their farmlands and properties.