VASCO: “Goyant Kollso Naka” (GKN) an umbrella organisation formed by people from across the State with the objective to stop coal handling and transportation in Goa submitted their objections to the office of Deputy Collector Mormugao on Tuesday. GKN also wants to stop all coal infrastructure projects and ongoing coal transportation infrastructure projects, including the subject double tracking, has demanded that it must be stopped immediately.
On Tuesday, speaking to this daily, a Co-Convenor of Goyant Kollso Naka, Abhijit Prabhudesai stated that the movement against the doubling of railway track project will become big and the doubling of railway track project will have to be scrapped if not then this will bring an irreversible destruction to the Goa. If it was not CoVID19 pandemic, then over lakh objections from all over the Goa where people directly or indirectly are affected with this Doubling of railway track project would have submitted their objections to the district administration.
He further mentioned that, “since the beginning, the people were against this doubling of track project as it is not going to benefit and instead will adversely affect the villagers. The people of Goa have totally rejected the land acquisition proceedings initiated on June 19, by the Dy Collector, Mormugao invoking the colonial Railways Act, 1989. Over 2,600 people from across the State have filed objections to the land acquisition proceedings” Prabhudesai added.
When asked, what was the outcome of their visit to the Deputy Collector’s office in Mormugao, Prabhudesai informed that the GKN members along with him, were eager to meet and discuss this issue with the Deputy Collector on Tuesday, but he was out with some work. We then decided to submit our letter of objection to the Deputy Collector’s office and then left. So far as per my knowledge over 2,600 objections were filed by the people and many more could have been filed via email by the people who couldn’t come to Vasco personally and submit their objection. People all over the Goa, from the college students to old age people are opposing this doubling of railway track project and we will not allow this project to materialize” Prabhudesai opined.
GKN has put forth their demands in their letter of objection that all ongoing coal transportation infrastructure projects, including the subject double tracking, must be stopped immediately. Secondly, there should not be further coal transportation/storage/handling infrastructure must be built in Goa. Thirdly, the ongoing coal transportation must be stopped.
