The former president of the Goa Forward Party, Prabhakar Timble who took a giant leap -forward- by quitting as President of the party and then the party, has put up a post on Facebook, which pretty much underlines the discourse over coal pollution in Vasco. It’s a simple post. A picture of a big lantern with the following text “Searching for coal-based power generation plants in Goa”.
This is a direct riposte to his former party colleague and Spokesman of Goa Forward Prashant Naik, who said if the coal is properly transported in packed containers with proper care it will not be a problem for the locals. “Opposing coal will be a problem for Electricity generation….opposing everything will be a problem for livelihood”.
This justification cannot be allowed to pass without questions and hard questions. Is Naik batting for a quantum leap in coal expansion and transportation when it is known that the maximum pollution takes place during handling and transportation? And is there a basis to assume or conclude that packed containers “with proper care” will nullify the pollution threat completely. And then, how does the argument that opposing everything for livelihood, apply to an exponential leap in coal transportation without evidence of risk mitigation. Is there evidence of increased employment generation for locals and if so, does it justify and offset threat of pollution which could even be life affecting or threatening?
Meanwhile, let us go back to Timble’s very simple comment “Searching for coal-based power generation plants in Goa”. This search is critical because if there are no coal-based power generation plants in Goa, is the chief spokesman of Goa Forward, a party with Goenkarponn in its DNA, advocating an activity which will help power generation in Karnataka. There is absolutely nothing incorrect or even unethical in helping a neighbour. But the statement can’t be left incomplete. He should have said “Opposing coal will be a problem for electricity generation in Karnataka”.
The context of the massive people’s opposition to all the three projects which are all linked to cater to and facilitate voluminous coal expansion has to be fathomed. The three projects are – Expansion of coal handling in berth 5A and 6 A, deepening of the approach channel for ships allowing bigger ships to pass, thereby ensuring more coal comes in and development of berths 8, 9 and the barge berth to accept multi-cargo. These would be under a dome shed cover.
The apprehension of the people of Goa, who participated in the public hearings which spilled over to four days was that this quantum expansion was being done is to accommodate a quantum leap on coal transportation, which is of virtually no benefit to Goa. Is the risk of pollution which may or may not be mitigated, therefore justified?
The dredging work in the River Zuari is primarily to allow bigger ships to bring in more cargo, including coal. Dredging will increase the depth of river to 20 meters making way for large ships to dock at the port. There are also plans to turn the two lane highways into four-lane highways that lead to Karnataka.
A double tracking project of the railway line is being undertaken, which according to locals is an attempt to prepare the infrastructure to handle transportation of coal through Goa to Karnataka.
Therefore, the real need for this expansion should be explained clearly to Goans. Is it for the revival of MPT which has seen rough days due to the stoppage of mining? And is it to increase productivity in Karnataka to give the steel industry a fillip? This should be admitted and explained. Once that is done, locals should be told clearly why this expansion will not affect their lives or that of the ecology or marine life and how protected species will be protected. Or conversely, locals should be told that the need to support industrial expansion in Karnataka and give more revenue to MPT is so paramount that all arguments against this expansion, are unjustified and therefore nullified.
And finally for the record, this movement, is not a movement by outsiders but a repeat of grand peoples movements where this land of ours has united to speak out against this expansion. Sons and daughters of the soil have lead and participated in this movement. They need respect, not insults.
