PANJIM: Goencho Avaaz on Saturday alleged that the new jetties planned throughout Goan rivers are for Sagarmala project to help the corporates and not to anchor police patrol or passenger vessels.
Addressing a press conference, Goencho Avaaz said it has learnt that the apprehension about the dangerous ramifications about the ill effects of Sagarmala project and eventual destruction of Goa is slowly coming true.
“As a matter of fact, Goencho Avaaz and other organizations fighting against this ill conceived project never had any doubts about the ulterior motive and hidden agenda about the government’s plan to help the corporate world at the cost of Goa’s destruction,” Goencho Avaaz co-convenor Capt Viriato Fernandes alleged.
He said the Sagarmala report clearly states that the jetties finalised at Aldona, Pilgao, Ribandar, Old Goa, Banastarim, Shiroda, Durbhat, Rassaim and Sanvordem are part of the larger plan meant for enhancing the logistics sector and increase the country’s port cargo traffic to 2.5 billion tonnes.
“The deception being floated by the Goa government that the jetties are for anchoring police patrol vessels/passengers is an eye wash to push through their hidden agenda of coal transportation meant to help the corporate like Adani, JSW, etc,” he claimed.
Captain Viriato said the sad part is that the EIA has been undertaken without involving the people or taking their views and suggestions into consideration.
“The hurry with which the GSPCB has gone about in this matter as well as their over enthusiasm in according approvals/consent to operate/handle coal calls for a background check on the movable/immovable assets in the name of the GSPCB officials and their family members,” he said.
“Goencho Avaaz calls upon the government to stop this destruction of Goa and take the civil society into consideration to study the larger aspects of environmental damage and benefit if any for the people of Goa,” he demanded.
Co-convenor Swapnesh Sherlekar reminded that the MLA of Aldona, Glen Ticlo had publicly stated that in case such jetties are planned under project Sagarmala, he will oppose the same and “stand with the people of Aldona”.
“Hence, we request the MLA to kindly come clear on this official admission by the government about the 9 jetties, including the one at Aldona and publicly state his opposition to this monstrous/destructive project called Sagarmala,” he said.
