TEAM HERALD
VASCO: Environment Minister Alina Saldanha yet again stated that she would always oppose the marina project as thousands of people depended on the Sancoale bay for their living. She said the projects were not developmental as development does not rob livelihoods nor does it cause destruction.
Alina was addressing the special gram sabha called by the Sancoale panchayat seeking her public assurance to always oppose the project regardless of the pressure.
The gram sabha started with member Narayan Naik leveling accusations at her. He claimed she was invited for the meeting but deliberately kept a medical camp at Zuarinagar to avoid coming. He said, “She was formally invited by the panchayat to clear our doubts. However, the way she tried to avoid the meeting hints that she is an agent of the marina and her opposition is for namesake.”
He was surprised when Alina and Goa State Diversity Board (GSBB) member Nitin Sawant showed up a few minutes later. She then made clear her stand as well as stand of the GSBB.
“Marinas are there in different part of the world. Maybe they are there as per the norms and rules of those countries, but as per the norms and rules of India and Goa, we cannot allow destruction of biodiversity and a source of livelihood of the locals from Sancoale as well as Nauxim,” said Alina.
She also expressed disappointment about the allegations leveled at her before she arrived for the meeting, and said the allegations were the work of vested interests. She said, “It is easy for those who don’t do anything to judge us without knowing the reality. We know that we are focused. Nobody can judge my sincerity. Also, I will always be with the people, because I am here doing what late Mathany Saldanha would have done. He gave forty years of his life to protect the environment and that is also my goal.”
Meanwhile, the locals were upset at the absence of five panch members, whom they accused of favouring the project.
Sancoale Sarpanch Sharan Meti also informed the villagers that the panchayat decided to present the facts and officials’ correspondence with regards to the marina projects before the gram sabha so that the public could endorse the panchayat’s opposition and resolution.
Finally, the panchayat decided to forward a copy of the resolution and scientific evidence about how the projects would destroy the Sancoale bay if anyone challenged the gram sabha’s decision before the appellate authority. The GSBB agreed to help the panchayat on this issue.
A few members also raised apprehension about whether the GSBB’s decision could be challenged before the national biodiversity board. Member Secretary Sawant replied it couldn’t be done. Even if anyone challenged the decision of the Biodiversity Management Committee (BMS) and GSBB, the party could not obtain permissions as the BMS had the power to reject all such proposals.
He said, “As the BMS of Sancoale is all set to adopt a resolution against the marina project, no party then can be allowed to go ahead with the project. Soon after the proposal of BMS, we will start the process of declaring Sancoale bay as a biodiversity heritage site.”
