Velim Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLA Cruz Silva has thrown his weight behind the Dioce san Commission for Ecol ogy (DCE) in its renewed opposition to the South Western Railway (SWR) double-tracking project, calling it unjustified, de structive and in violation of both public sentiment and judicial directives. In a statement issued on Sunday, Silva said he “unequivocally supports” the stand taken by the DCE, which had earlier reiterated its objections to the railway expansion citing ecological damage, the Supreme Court’s 2022 ruling and persistent peo ple’s protests. “This pro ject, which threatens the ecological sanctity of Goa and the democratic rights of its people, has already been deemed unjustified and destructive by the Su preme Court of India,” he said.
Silva noted that the land mark judgment of May 9, 2022, which set aside the wildlife clearance for the project, must be respected “not only as a legal direc tive but as a moral compass guiding our development choices.” He endorsed the concerns highlighted by the Commission, led by Fr Bolmax Pereira, saying they reflect the lived realities of Goans who have opposed dou ble-tracking since its in ception.
The MLA pointed to the irreversible damage the project poses to the West ern Ghats, a globally recog nised biodiversity hotspot, along with the threat to ancestral homes, heritage structures and religious sites that he said define Goa’s cultural identity. He also echoed fears of health risks from increased coal transportation and wors ening air quality, in addi tion to the forcible acqui sition of land from farmers and comunidades that un dermines livelihoods and traditional systems of local governance. “As a public representa tive, I stand with the peo ple and the Church in as serting that development must never come at the cost of our environment, heritage, or dignity,” Sil va said. “Goa’s future lies in sustainable, inclusive growth—not in projects that disregard judicial or ders and bulldoze public sentiment.”
Calling for immediate government intervention, Silva demanded a halt to all activities related to the double-tracking pro ject and the initiation of a transparent, participatory reassessment of its neces sity and impact. He said the state must prioritise models of development that protect natural herit age and reflect the aspira tions of its people. “In solidarity with the Diocesan Commission for Ecology and the citizens of Goa, I reaffirm my com mitment to environmental justice, cultural preserva tion, and responsible gov ernance,” Silva said, pledg ing to continue opposing the railway expansion.