BENAULIM: An awareness meeting was organised by Goencho Ekvott (GE) at Benaulim on Sunday, which was attended by the Benaulim MLA Churchill Alemao who had been invited for the same.
GE Convener, Creson Antao requested the youth to help make it a mass movement.
Captain Viriato Fernandes explained the connection between the ‘ Sagarmala Project, the nationalisation of rivers and the MPT Master plan through a power point presentation. He enlightened those gathered how coal will be the final death knell for Goans. People of Benaulim were informed of the ‘Fall of Tourism’ and ‘Coal in the fishing nets’ if Goa allows 136 MTPA of coal to come to MPT.
He reminded Churchill of his role on the frontiers towards the 1987 Konkani language struggle and how he led Goans on the roads to success.
Viriato added, “We want that Churchill back ‘ to lead Goans to wipe away the coal mafia from Goa.
Fr Bolmax Pereira, a botanist himself explained that Goans need to save Goa’s forests, mangroves, rivers for Goa’s future generations as Goa’s older generations had done for Goa’s present generation.
Rama Kankonkar, spoke about how locals of Nauxim are opposing the marina, which will destroy the livelihood of 3,500 fishermen and their families all along the Zuari river. His message was to save the fishing community, tribes and local Goans from being displaced from their own land for big projects.
