VASCO: The Cortalim gram sabha on Sunday unanimously resolved to oppose coal transportation and proposed nationalisation of rivers in Goa.
It may be recalled that the members at the last gram sabha held on October 22, 2017 had resolved to oppose nationalisation of rivers in Goa however before the gram sabha could move on to commence discussion on second important issue of stopping coal transportation in Goa, the meeting was called off abruptly following noisy scenes.
Since the villagers wanted the gram sabha to take up the issue afresh, the same issue was again placed for discussion at the gram sabha. Jude Pereira, a member moved a resolution opposing nationalisation of rivers and transportation of coal.
During the discussion, Pereira demanded that all handling of coal through or in Cortalim be stopped due to health and environment hazards. He said that transportation of coal through Cortalim village via road, rail or rivers should be opposed by the villagers.
“While we oppose coal transportation, we should also oppose nationalisation of rivers, which will affect the livelihood of our fishing community and it will take away the rights of the citizens within specified radius of the river banks,” Pereira said. Later, after discussing the issue, the gram sabha unanimously resolved to oppose coal transportation and proposed nationalisation of rivers in Goa.
“Today, we have adopted a resolution against the coal transportation and nationalisation of rivers in Goa. As we all know our Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar is working very hard to bring down coal pollution due to handling of coal or due to its transportation. So after the issue was placed, we decided and resolved to oppose coal transportation and nationalisation of rivers in Goa,” Cortalim Sarpanch Senia Pereira said.
Other issues such as ongoing work of market complex, deployment of traffic police on account of the traffic congestion at vital routes in the village etc. were also discussed.
