Team Herald
PANJIM: Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar on Sunday admitted that the coal is indeed not good for the environment but questioned what could be the other option if we shun it.
“We cannot avoid coal, even if we wish to. Coal is bad for the environment of Goa but the use of coal is necessary. Some section of people oppose coal, they don’t oppose the coal transportation or pollution. When they say that they are opposing coal they should stop using the electricity”, said Parrikar while addressing the gathering at the Gomantak Balshikshan Parishad annual convention.
“The country’s 85 per cent of the electricity is from the coal and the hydraulic power is also dangerous to the environment and similarly we don’t want nuclear power. So till we get an alternative we will have to be dependent on coal or we will have to switch the lights off,” he said.
He further said that it could turn into a worst situation as the protests against the coal which have begun in Goa can spread to areas where coal is used to produce power.
“When you start misleading the public then the issue can be diverted in a wrong direction. The places like Corba where electricity is produced, the pollution is hundred per cent more. What is important is that you cannot say that you are against coal but you can say that you are against the coal pollution,” he added.
