PORVORIM: The ministers participating in the debate on the floor of the House on Friday, over excessive coal handling at Mormugao Port Trust (MPT) and the resultant pollution, backed the government and appreciated the action being taken by the chief minister.Goa Forward MLA and Town and Country Planning Minister Vijai Sardesai, taking a dig at the opposition, said the opposition is creating a pessimist generation by opposing and instigating the people.
“The people who are not elected by anyone are creating a mobocracy; they are creating a generation of pessimists in the State,” he said. “When I was in the Opposition I had raised this issue of coal pollution and at that time the then government and the same Congressmen were making fun (of me) stating that it was a stunt of a new political party,” Sardesai added.
Defending the Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar, he said, the chief minister has assured that Goa would never be a coal hub. “I am proud that the Chief Minister is going to take measures to minimise coal pollution and take the people to task who are involved in coal pollution,” the TCP minister said.
He added, “When we talk in the House we need to be cautious, it has become a trend in Goa that don’t believe in government, not to keep faith and trust in elected representatives including the Chief Minister.”
He said the company handling coal has cheated and excessive coal has been handled causing pollution, so GSPCB and MPT who were silent should be taken to task.
“We have compromised to save Goenkarponn, not to eat pollution of coal; we are against coal pollution; our voice will be heard by the CM. Why don’t we give him a chance? As a responsible citizen there is a need to give a chance,” Sardesai said and added that coal transportation should not be through rivers other than the river which is already carrying it.
