Team Herald
PANJIM: Alina Saldanha, Former MLA of Cortalim and ex-minister for Forest and Environment expressed “shock and dismay” at the utterances of Capt Viriato, the newly elected MP of South Goa with reference to the doubling of the South Western Railway track through the villages of South Goa.
Incidentally Saldhana is also from the Congress and had campaigned extensively for Captain Viriato in the Lok Sabha elections.
In a written statement to O Heraldo, the former Environment Minster said, “It appears that Captain Viriato has not done a thorough study of the implications involved in the South Western Railway (SWR) doubling of the track or else he would not be saying that the houses of the people living along the proposed route will not be demolished.”
Interestingly the South Goa MP, earlier as a member of the umbrella people's network Goencho Ekvott, had protested vehemently against the SWR's double tracking project, especially its projected impact on many homes in the Cansaulim, Velsao, Irrorcim belt, due to vibration and coal dust, dur to coal transportation
She further stated, “The houses may not be technically demolished but common sense tells us that the further increase in the vibrations after the second track is laid will lead to the collapse of these houses along the track.”
She added that many of these houses along the SWR route through the villages of South Goa are heritage houses, some more than 500-years-old. There are also mud houses of the economically backward which will crumble into dust due to further increase in vibrations.
However as the sharp reactions to the strongly perceived watering down of his stand on double tracking, with activists like Xencor Polji calling it a “total U turn”, Virato stated last Thursday that he is opposed to the doubling tracking project and the plans to make Goa a coal hub.
But that hasn't brought down the sharp reactions from even his senior party colleagues.
In a direct repartee, Alina Saldanha asked, “Has Captain Viriato visited the houses along the present SWR Track through the villages of South Goa? Has he gone and seen the huge cracks on the walls of these houses, right from the roof to the floor? The issue is not about demolition but about collapse of these houses due to further increased vibrations?”
The former minister also flagged the issue of the second track. “Another important fact that Captain Viriato is oblivious of the fact that a second track is to be laid across the villages of South Goa. It is basically for the transportation of coal coming from Australia to Bellary in Karnataka, thereby further increasing the coal dust pollution, which is presently the cause for many sufferings like lung disorders and respiratory problems,” Saldanha said.
The same coal dust has also been polluting many water bodies in South Goa, as a result of which, many times, a black substance is found in the gills of fish, found in some of these water bodies. This is not fiction, but reality.
Has Captain Viriato done a study on the coal pollution levels that will rise further if the second SWR track through the villages of South Goa become a reality and its repercussions on the environment before taking a stand on this issue?
Saldanah further asked if Captain Viriato, “now that he is elected as an MP”, has discussed with Karnataka MPs about transportation of coal to Karnataka through Goa?
“It is a well-known fact that the State of Karnataka is nearly 60 times bigger than Goa and has more than nine ports. Why is it that the Karnataka government does not transport the coal from Australia through one of its many ports to Bellary instead of bringing the coal first to Goa and then transporting it through Goa, thereby increasing the pollution levels,” she said.
Flagging the issue of the Rail Vikas Nigam's (RVNL)demarcation of the second track in Velsao, she said, “It is a known fact that RVNL has done the demarcation of the second SWR track in the village of Velsao and accordingly, the track lands in the compound of some houses, and on the veranda of some houses. Will the owners be able to continue living in these houses?” she asked.
Saldanha in her statement further wrote, “Captain Viriato must know that the issue of the second SWR track through South Goa is not just about a nullah or an access road in the village of Cansaulim or Velsao. It is about the destruction of the villages of South Goa.”
She concluded by saying, “Lastly, I request Captain Viriato to please read the recommendations of the Central Empowered Committee (CEC) to understand why the second SWR track through the tiny State of Goa has not been approved by the Supreme Court and take the right stand to protect Goa.”
Congress leader Elvis Gomes, meanwhile. has asked “if (Captain Viriato's) opposition to double tracking has been withdrawn”.
He said, “Betrayal is going on in society. The MLAs have been betraying the people by leaving their parties. In this situation, we wonder whether the demand against the double tracking project has been dropped,” he added.