Team Herald
PORVORIM: Urging all 40 MLAs to pass a resolution in the House against the setting up a coal hub in Goa, NCP MLA Churchill Alemao said the future of Goa and its environment is at stake if no action is taken to stop the transportation of coal in the State.
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Speaking in the House, Alemao said the government should work towards capping the present transport of coal in Goa wherein in the near future, coal is stopped entirely. He added that if industries in Maharashtra and Karnataka need coal, it should be transported directly to these States but Goa should be avoided. He claimed that coal is being routed from a coal mine in Australia which won’t benefit Goa in any way but cause more harm.
He also said that he understands there are some who work at MPT but that the entire population of Goa cannot be made to suffer because of coal.
Alemao said Goa can forget about tourism if coal storage and transport continues as it will lead to high pollution levels and rivers, beaches will get affected.
Speaking on tourism, Alemao demanded that the traffic cell in Colva be removed because the traffic police are harassing visitors and locals.
The MLA also demanded that the government initiate an inquiry to assess how many Goans are employed in hotels in the State and demanded that more locals be employed in the hospitality sector and that their wages be increased.
The former Minister asked the Tourism and Transport Minister not to support Goa Miles and questioned who is tracking where their drivers are coming as they don’t require a 15-year-domicile. He said some of them could be from Pakistan even and no one would know.
Speaking about his constituency, the Benaulim MLA asked the government to prioritise the setting up of a 15-bedded health care centre in Benaulim given that locals currently have to go to health centres located in Chinchinim and Cansaulim.
On another issue, the MLA congratulated Chief Minister Pramod Sawant for announcing the setting up of a mining corporation but says he hope it doesn’t remain a promise as it needs to be implemented too, which he adds will help the government earn revenue.
