MAPUSA: Aldona MLA, Glenn Ticlo has rubbished that there is a proposal for a coal jetty at Aldona, however, in the same voice he has expressed inability to act if the river is used to transport coal. He was reacting to a story, ‘Proposed coal jetty in Aldona raises heckles’ published in Herald Review on Sunday, January 20.
The MLA stated that the report has confused the people from Aldona Constituency.
“There are plans to repair four jetties which include one at Aldona, Calvim, Pomburpa and Ecoxim due to congestion on the highways, to improve hinterland tourism and ferry passengers. Hence this proposal was put under Sagarmala by the Captain of Ports but not with the intention of having a coal jetty. A coal jetty appears to be in Sirsaim and I will not allow it to happen when my people are opposing it, I will strongly oppose that,” said Ticlo.
He also threatened to file a defamation case against the NGO, Goencho Avaaz for making baseless allegation against him at the public meeting on Liberation Day organsied by Goencho Avaaz.
“They made allegations that I am aware of the coal jetty and that a 25-metre road is planned with the intent of transporting coal. They also spoke of displacement of houses in the villages of Aldona, Bastora, Moira, Nachinola including the church. They earlier made allegations against me that I want to convert agricultural land into settlement. It was part NDZ, part settlement and part orchard. Till today that land has not been converted,” said Ticlo.
When questioned if he would oppose the transportation of coal in the river that flows through Aldona he replied, “Tomorrow if they are going to use the river what can I do, but not the roads. They are not going to use the jetty to fill the trucks and use my roads. I will not allow a coal jetty to come in my constituency. If it comes anywhere else is none of my concern”.
