PORVORIM: Although Chief Minister Pramod Sawant at first brushed aside the apprehensions of several MLAs that the three new proposed stations on Konkan railway route, saying they were central subject, he later clarified that no coal hub would come up on any of the Konkan Railway station.
The new stations are proposed at Sarzora, Neura and Mayem. Opposition Leader Yuri Alemao said the CM's reply to the calling attention motion raised suspicion since he said the state does not have jurisdiction over the railways. Why did the CM not reply that coal would not be handled on these railway stations, he asked.
Opposition MLAs Cruz Silva, Viresh Borkar, Venzy Viegas all opposed the proposed railway stations saying they would damage the fragile ecology of Goa
Chief Minister Pramod Sawant said that no coal would be handled at any of the three new proposed stations on the Konkan Railway route. The apprehensions are unfounded, just like people had apprehensions about the Konkan Railway (in 1993-94), he said.
Sawant said we want a station at Mayem, since there is no station in Bicholim taluka. But if there are any objections against the other two stations, I will submit the objections to the centre he assured. Prior to that there was an uproar in the House over the issue of coal being dumped at these stations.