Team Herald
MARGAO: The silence of some MLAs on the controversial three linear projects during the ongoing Monsoon Session of the Goa Legislative Assembly has left citizens fuming, who have now pledged to expose the “double standards” of these concerned legislators.
Meanwhile, the Parish Priest of Rachol Seminary Fr Eremito Rebello has asked MLAs to brace up for protests at their homes, for their abject betrayal of people’s wishes.
"It was shocking to witness even the MLAs who were part of the agitation, remained silent", Fr Rebello said.
Before the elections, there were some MLAs who were at the forefront in the fight against these three linear projects. But in the Assembly, when this issue was raised, they were quiet. Why?” asked Fr Rebello.
He added that these MLAs may be more worried about not losing out on the benefits they receive from the govt and ruling party.
Fr Rebello also questioned the remarks made by PWD Minister Nilesh Cabral that the State will not allow the amount of coal being transported to increase.
He said if that was the case, then what the need for the railway double tracking project was and emphasised that it should be scrapped.
Speaking to Herald, citizens comprising mostly social activists fighting to save the State’s environment from the destruction due to three linear projects have questioned those MLAs for remaining mum on the issue.
The Fatorda and Quepem MLAs- Vijai Sardesai and Altone D’Costa had taken the lead a Private Members resolution recommending the scrapping of the three linear projects of double-tracking of South Western Railway lines, Tamnar power transmission and expansion of National Highway 4-A passing through the protected areas of Bhagwan Mahaveer Wildlife Sanctuary and Mollem National Park.
The Goa Assembly had witnessed noisy scenes on Friday with Opposition Legislators rushing to the well of the House after Chief Minister Dr Pramod Sawant and Environment Minister Nilesh Cabral failed to give an assurance to scrap the controversial three linear projects and withdraw criminal cases against the NGOs. However, barring these two MLAs, people felt that others didn’t do enough to push through the resolution against linear projects
Abhijit Prabhudesai, Co-Convenor of Goyant Kollso Naka (GKN) said these MLAs who failed to support the resolution moved against the three linear projects in the Assembly are tight-lipped on the issue.
"Most MLAs were earlier against double tracking to facilitate project to transport coal by rail, but it was very unfortunate that they failed to come out openly against the three linear projects”, he said. They either face compulsion from their party or face the risk of Enforcement Directorate/Income Tax raids,” Prahbhudesai added.
He said the citizens expected at least MLAs such as Aleixo Reginaldo Lourenco, Ulhas Tuenkar, Antonio Vas, Krisnha Salkar and Ganesh Gaonkar and few others whose constituencies will be affected due to the three linear projects to take stand against the projects.
Slamming Reginaldo for adopting double standards on the issue, Congress leader Moreno Rebello said, "Reginaldo stands completely exposed with his complete silence during the discussion on the resolution demanding to scrap of three linear projects in the Assembly.”
He said it is shocking that Curtorim MLA who always pretended to be against the three linear projects did not participate in the discussions in the Assembly on the private member resolution moved by Congress’ Quepem MLA Altone D'Costa and Fatorda MLA Vijai Sardesai.
"I demand that Curtorim MLA should explain to Curtorkars why he did not support the resolution demanding to scrap of three linear projects and withdrawal of cases against protesters", Rebello urged.
J Santano Rodrigues, head of the Biodiversity Committee of Curtorim also questioned the MLAs for not uttering a single word on the issue at the discussion during the Assembly session.
"It is really shocking that many MLAs, except a few from the South, were least bothered to take a stand against the three linear projects and to support the people agitating on the issue", he said.
Peter Fernandes, a Chandor resident opined that not supporting the resolution against the three linear projects clearly shows how much concern the MLAs have for the environment.