Team Herald
PANJIM: The BJP State Unit has slammed “self-proclaimed activists” opposing the three national projects viz a railway line, a highway and a power transmission line.
“Some self-proclaimed activists are objecting to these projects. The three projects are not new as claimed by some of them. If we think of development for the next 50 years, the projects are a boon. People should support,” BJP spokesperson and former Panjim MLA Siddhart Kuncalienkar said while addressing a press conference, at party head office, on Tuesday.
The three projects, one of which includes cutting of 70,000 trees, were approved by the State Wildlife Board in December 2019 following consent from the Union Ministry for Environment, Forests and Climate Change in June 2020.
A group of citizens, ranging from retired professional to young achievers have come together to remind their MLAs about the ill-effects of infrastructural projects in and around the protected Mollem National Park and Bhagvan Mahaveer Sanctuary.
Kuncalienkar defended that all the requirements are being taken care of such as planting of saplings as against the total axing of the trees.
On the issue of Mhadei River, he stated that the party had appointed the National Institute of Hydrology, Rorkee to study the salinity in the Mhadei as demanded by Goa was not emphasised by the Opposition that instead cornered the government on the ‘consent’ issue.
The Centre has claimed that Karnataka and Maharashtra do not need consent from Goa for the Kalsa-Bhandura Project, though they require permissions as per law from different ministries and authorities. However, National Institute of Hydrology, Rorkee is appointed to study the salinity in the Mhadei River.
