Team Herald
CURCHOREM: The gram sabha of Assolda-Xelvona, Xic-Xelvona and Hodar panchayat on Sunday unanimously decided to oppose the proposed “Rail Freight Terminal” at Xic-Xelvona for handling multi-cargo.
After heated discussions, the gram sabha adopted a resolution, in the presence of local MLA Nilesh Cabral, opposing the project and decided to inform in writing to the Town and Planning Department its opposition to earmarking the area as industrial zone for building the rail freight terminal.
In a specially called gram sabha, Sarpanch Dayanand Naik informed that the Goa State Environment Impact Assessment Authority (GSEIAA) has issued a provisional environmental clearance to the company without informing and bypassing the local panchayat. This, he said, the panchayat came to know through newspapers.
He also informed the gram sabha that any appeal against the environmental clearance shall lie with the National Green Tribunal (NGT), if preferred within 30 days as prescribed under Section 16 of the National Green Tribunal Act, 2010.
The gram sabha also brought to the notice of the panchayat members that the same company wanted to bring merry-go-round project in the area to handle the mining ore which the people fought and opposed.
The rail freight terminal is another attempt at bringing in a project that would cause pollution; people are induced with jobs to accept the project, Naik said.
“Projects which will create pollution and destroy the environment should be stopped at the initial stage itself, so that the need to approach courts would not arise,” said a local resident.
Former sarpanch Tony Fernandes said that the freight terminal is proposed on partly agricultural and partly forested eco-sensitive land, therefore, he said, nothing should change in the regional plan.
Former industries minister Ramrao Desai informed the gram sabha that if the Investment Promotion Board notifies the areas, then they can bypass all the other departments including local self-governments and urged the people to collectively oppose the project.
Finally, the gram sabha resolved to oppose the proposed project tooth and nail and authorized the local panchayat to file an appeal in the Green Tribunal opposing the project.
Sarpanch Naik agreed to the demand of the gramb sabha to hold a special gram sabha on second Sunday of every month to inform the people of the progress in the matter.
Announcing that he would financially support the panchayat, Curchorem MLA Nilesh Cabral said that he would not go against the wishes of the people and never allow the project in the constituency.
