Team Herald
MARGAO: Nuvem MLA Wilfred D’Sa while opining that Goa does not need coal that is transported to it, however confessed that he hasn’t really studied the issue of double tracking, widening the roads and destruction of conservation areas in Mollem even as Goeant Kollso Naka (GSN) offered to explain to him how Goa will be destroyed due to these plans.
He said he had asked the Collector for an appointment where representatives of GSN and Goencho Ekvott could jointly discuss the matter. However as Goencho Ekvott refused to attend the meeting, he said the same stands cancelled when asked what he had done about the memorandum submitted by GSN to him.
However talking to the 20 GSN members who called on him at his office in Nuvem, D’Sa said he was of the opinion that Goa does not need the coal that is transported through it and further admitted that the ill-effects of coal particularly through its dust would be disastrous to Goa.
He admitted that he has not asked the Chief Minister or any minister about the protests taking place in Goa over these three projects and indicated that the government has not taken even the MLAs into confidence in the matter.
GSN offered to give a presentation explaining how these projects will kill the pristine and beautiful Goa that is attracting tourists and added that these projects will totally destroy Goa converting it into another polluted metro like Mumbai.
“I am with the people and specially my electorate,” he said but pointed out that his constituency is not much affected as only along 260 mts length additional land is sought to be acquired by the railways, which had already acquired land elsewhere 20 years back.
“When some people told me, I went that day to Majorda and of the around 80 people there, only about 10 were from my constituency,” he said.
GSN added that the railways have since 2011 used only 1/3rd of the budget allotted for double tracking and while the State govt has given all permissions and licenses, the Centre’s licenses are still awaited.
