TEAM HERALD
VASCO: The State Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) unit has warned to hit the streets and threatened to launch a mass agitation if the BJP government makes any further moves to introduce marinas in the State.
NCP also questioned the silence of BJP ministers and MLAs on the issue and charged that the government is trying to fool the people by having some of its leaders oppose the marinas. NCP has accused Environment Minister Alina Saldanha of playing the lead role in the ‘opposition dramas’ and demanded the minister’s resignation as her own government is not listening to her.
Addressing a press conference on Monday, NCP senior vice president Jose Philip D’Souza and spokesperson Trajano D’Mello lambasted the BJP government for the marina and the sea plane projects.
“Both these projects are anti-people, and the BJP government is forcing these projects on people. NCP opposes this tooth and nail. If required we will hit the streets but will not allow the marina project to come up,” D’Souza said.
D’Souza added, “The marina project is a threat to the ecology and biodiversity besides being a major threat to the livelihood of the fishing community dependent on Zuari River bay. It is a surprise that the government is not paying heed to people’s opposition and is in no mood to take people into confidence before making announcements of such project. It makes us believe that BJP is out to destroy Goa and Goans,” he said.
D’Mello questioned the silence of Fisheries Minister, Avertano Furtado on the marina issue and criticized Saldanha for her stand on marinas. “I smell rat as the issue of marinas is directly related to the people from the fishing community, but still our minister (Furtado) is silent. This shows that he is not bothered about the fishing community.
On the other hand, Alina claims that she is not against marinas, but is against the selected site. She, as environment minister, should know by now that the rivers of Goa fall in the eco-sensitive zone. I challenge her to identify where marinas can come up and which site, according to her, is feasible,” he said.
He further said, “Alina also said that she was not aware when the marina project got passed, but these projects are directly connected to the environment and if she was not consulted then she should tender her resignation because all this cannot happen without her knowledge. Are you in the Opposition or Ruling? Whom are you trying to fool? If you are opposing then come with us and let us hit the streets,” D’Mello said.
D’Mello also said, “It is an irony that the State government talks about preserving the environment, but their claims turns futile as the highest number of orders from National Green Tribunal have come during the present BJP rule in the State, which proves that only people are fighting to preserve and protect the environment and the environment minister and her government is working hard to destroy the environment,” he said.
