Team Herald
PANJIM: While appealing to the BJP-led government not to make it a “prestige” issue, Congress on Wednesday urged the Chief Minister Pramod Sawant to conduct a public hearing on the three commercial projects- double tracking of railway line, national highway expansion and power transmission line- passing through the Bhagwan Mahaveer Wildlife Sanctuary and the Mollem National Park, to listen to the people’s grievance.
If you enjoyed reading this article, you can help support our journalism by adding OHeraldo as a preferred source.
Addressing media persons, Goa Pradesh Congress Committee (GPCC) President Girish Chodankar also requested the government not to give a “communal colour” to the “people’s movement”.
“People’s sentiments have to be respected. We urge the BJP Government to hold a public hearing on the three projects passing through the protected areas. Let the people give their comments, objections to the project. People’s views have to be heard and acted upon,” Chodankar said.
He added that Congress in Goa has always respected the sentiments of the people and has dared to cancel its own decisions like scrapping of Regional Plan 2011, SEZ policy, etc to uphold the democratic process and the rights of citizens.
“We are committed to protect the identity of Goa and the environment and we will continue to be the voice of the people,” he said.
Chodankar announced that Congress will organize a public meeting on November 7 at Lohia Maidan to warn the government and raise the voice against the three projects opposing the attempts of the government to convert Goa into a coal hub to help Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s crony club.
“We appeal to NGOs, activists and all those who are against the project to join the public meeting. To ensure that it does not get political colours, the party will ensure that its flags and banners are not there. It will be people’s movement,” he said.
The Congress president warned the government against giving a communal colour to the people’s agitation over its failure to protect the Environment and Identity of Goa.
“We also request the CM and Minister Nilesh Cabral not to be mouthpiece of crony capitalists like Jindal and Adani,” he said.
The Leader of Opposition Digambar Kamat recalled that the Congress government during his regime has always upheld the sentiments of the people and worked for the benefit of the common man. “We request the government not to make these projects as their prestige issue. The Government should take a decision once for all in public interest,” he demanded.
Speaking earlier, former CM and senior MLA Pratapsingh Rane said the three projects will lead to mass destruction of environment and ecology. “Goa is known for its greenery, bio-diversity, and ecology. Tourists also visit the State to enjoy this. The greenery of Goa under no circumstances should be allowed to be demolished and removed. We need to protect it for our future generation,” he said.
Rane questioned whether a small State like Goa requires projects like double tracking of railway line.
Responding to a question over the allegation by BJP that it was Congress who allowed coal handling at MPT, Rane said “if you find it is harmful for the State…then stop it. Don’t get into blame game. You are in power…stop it…Take a bold decision,” he said.
Speaking on the Shel Melauli IIT Project, Rane said that the government must respect sentiments of locals before finalizing any project. He said that there is ample land available in Goa which can be utilized for the IIT Project. He also emphasized that there is no alternative for cultivable land.
