Speaking at the third logistics conference organised by the Confederation of Indian Industries, Union Railways Minister Suresh Prabhu said that the government is willing to look for solutions to ensure a pollution-free environment by transporting coal through the railway network. He, however, added that if the people were against it, then it was their wishes that mattered. While the Minister left it at that and didn’t elaborate on the solutions that are being though of any further, the people should take this up for discussion and decide whether any such solution would be acceptable to them.
What the Minister has proffered is neither a new option to the route and transport system for the transportation of coal through Goa, nor is it a final plan that has been put up before the people of the State, but all, especially those affected by the pollution that coal transportation causes, should already be looking into this possibility. As of now, coal transportation from the docks of Mormugao Port Trust to the final destination which is outside the State, is conducted via road, passing through Vasco town leading to spillage that in turn leads to pollution, and the railway system.
There is no argument in the fact that India still depends on coal for much of its power generation, and needs it, but the concerns raised by the people need to be addressed also.
In a democracy it is always the people’s wishes that should take precedence. This government must keep in mind that all four constituencies of Mormugao taluka voted for the BJP in February this year, and in April, at the open hearings on coal, the people of this taluka, joined by others from the rest of the State, collectively opposed the handling of coal at the Mormugao Port Trust (MPT), its expansion projects and the transportation of coal. There were senior citizens and children at the hearings who spoke in one voice and the large numbers of people drew the caustic remark from the MPT of ‘outsiders’ coming to the hearings, that did not go well with the people. And since the Minister has left it to the people to decide whether they want it or not, let them decide.
It may be still early to come up with an informed decision on this as there are no details on the pollution-free system of transportation that is to be adopted, but the debate can start, and the arguments put forth at the hearings can be taken as the background to build on them. To recall what a student, Sherwyn Correia, had said at the coal pollution hearings, “The rich and well to do move out of Vasco to breathe a cleaner air but what about the thousands of people, particularly children, who cannot afford another home and who continue to suffer day in and day out?” The views of all people, especially those who are traditionally voiceless, have to be taken into account when arriving at this decision.
This matter concerns all the residents of Vasco and the surrounding areas and all the villages through which the railway line passes, including Margao town that is a major railway junction that cannot be avoided in any transportation through the railway system. Since the transportation of coal involves a large area, the earlier that the authorities can finalise and present their proposal for a pollution-free transportation system for coal, the faster it can be debated and decided upon. It is, after all, as the Minister said, the people’s wishes that should matter. And in a democracy it should.
