Margao: Villagers from Chandor Cavorim including school-going children on Thursday, participated in a token protest at the Chandor Railway Station protesting against the double tracking of the railway line, widening of the roads and setting up industries in the wild life sanctuaries.
Chandor Cavorim Sarpanch Wilfred D’Silva, Deputy Sarpanch Arlnda Tereza, former Sarpanch Celina Coelho, Panch Derrick Pereira, Ex-sarpanch Suzanne Fernandes and former Guirdolim Sarpanch and present panch Sonia Fernandes participated in the protest.
The protest, which was coordinated by Rainbow Warriors, had Ganv Bhavancho Ekvott participating and the organization committee member Felix Furtado cautioned that the double tracking was done solely for the benefit of big industrialists like Adani and the people would not get any benefit from it.
He added that instead, the common man would have to suffer from the effects of noise pollution and worse, coal dust pollution, which could even cause cancer; and he further lamented that the beautiful and pristine village of Chandor will be permanently destroyed.
Sarpanch Edward pointed out that in Vasco where there is plenty of coal pollution as coal is unloaded at the port and transported from there, many people are suffering from respiratory disorders. He added that the same kind of problems will be fate across Goa if the State is converted into a coal hub.
He warned that Chandor station will become the main hub of coal when the double tracking is completed, as coal will be transported by the river Kushawati and then loaded at the Chandor Station.
After staging the protest at the Chandor railway station, Rainbow Warriors held another protest in the neighbouring village of Guirdolim and this was held close to the panchayat ghar there.
