Cong stages dharna at SWR Headquarters in Hubli

MARGAO:  The Goa Congress with almost 100 workers on Tuesday staged demonstrations at South Western Railway Headquarters in Hubli and submitted a memorandum to the General Manager demanding stoppage of the railway double tracking work from Vasco to Londa, which will destroy the environment, and scrapping of the entire project immediately.

Goa Pradesh Congress Committee President Girish Chodankar and Leader of Opposition Digambar Kamat submitted a memorandum to Additional General Manager of South Western Railway Prashant Kumar Mishra and brought it to his notice that there is complete opposition to the said work in Goa. 

They also warned him that protests will grow if Railway Vikas Nigam does not take cognizance which may eventually lead to law and order problem in the State. Both the leaders demanded that the work of doubling of tracks must be stopped and the entire project must be scrapped. 

Congress members reached Huballi in the morning and staged agitation in front of South Western Railway Headquarters. 

Congress functionaries Sankalp Amonkar, Amarnath Panjikar, Janardhan Bhandari, Joseph Dias, Vijay Bhike, Royla Fernandes, Denica Almeida, Damodar Shirodkar, Varad Mardolkar, Sachin Parab, Dashrath Mandrekar, Abhijit Deseai, Meghashyam Raut, Glen Cabral and others raised slogans holding placards like “Only Goal Say No to Coal”, “Save Mollem from Destruction”, “Bandh Karo Bandh Karo Double Tracking Bandh Karo” and “Amkam Naka Amkam Naka Kaalo Kolso Amkam Naka”. 

SWR Additional General Manager P K Mishra assured the delegation to take up with higher authorities the concerns raised by the Congress Party and try to find solution. 

He said that protecting nature of Goa is important and duty of all. 

“Congress is committed to protect the identity of Goa and environment. We will not allow the attempts of the BJP government to convert Goa into a coal hub. Railway authorities must act wisely and stop the double tracking work immediately failing which they will have to face serious consequences,” stated Leader of Opposition Digambar Kamat, while addressing the Congress members. 

“The insensitive BJP government is trying to convert Goa into a coal hub to help Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s crony club. Congress Party has shown the trailer of its agitation during protests at Nessai, Chandor and Davorlim and during the protest meeting at Lohia Maidan,” said GPCC President Girish Chodankar and warned the government that the protests will intensify if the work is not stopped and the project is scrapped. 

“Today, the Anti-Coal and Save Mollem protests have received support from renowned personalities from all across the State. The government must come to senses and scrap the project causing destruction to the environment,” said Royla Fernandes. 

Pointing to the picture of the famous Dudhsagar Falls displayed in AGM’s office, Royla said that it is now the duty of the railway authority to ensure that the Falls remains lively always. 

“The coal pollution has taken the entire Mormugao Taluka into its clutches and people are suffering. If MPT does not stop handling of coal then it will be difficult for people even to breathe,” said Sankalp Amonkar. 

GPCC functionaries Joseph Dias, Vijay Bhike, Janardhan Bhandari and others also spoke opposing the coal transportation in Goa causing health hazards.