PANJIM: Accusing the BJP-led government of launching ‘environmental terrorism’ in the State, the ‘Third Front’ has demanded an opinion poll on the controversial decisions of declassifying coconut as tree and allowing eco-tourism in eco-sensitive areas. The issues held central stage during the recently-concluded winter session of the State Legislative Assembly.
Addressing the media on Saturday, Independent MLAs Vijai Sardesai, Rohan Khaunte and Naresh Sawal accused the government of starting environmental terrorism in the State and warned that the decision to remove coconut from the purview of tree would turn out to be a major issue during the forthcoming Assembly election. The Third Front has decided to reach out to people on the Tree Preservation Bill.
“It is a mixture of environment and economic terrorism that the BJP government has unleashed on the State of Goa,” the MLAs charged. “We challenge the government to hold an opinion poll on its decision of declassifying coconut as tree and allowing eco-tourism in eco-sensitive areas. Let the people give its opinion,” they demanded.
Sardesai said that 50 years ago the State had witnessed the country’s first opinion poll to decide on whether Goa should merge with Maharashtra or remain a Union Territory and preserve its identity. “After 50 years, we feel Goans again need to go for an opinion poll to maintain and further protect its unique identity, which is on sale,” he alleged.
Supporting him, Khaunte questioned the silence of former Forest Minister Alina Saldanha on both controversies. “Alina has maintained complete silent on these issues. She was part of the cabinet that approved both the amendments. I wonder if Matanhy (former minister Saldanha) was alive today, what would have been his stand.”
The Independent MLAs charged that their voices were bulldozed by the majority in the Assembly. “The young BJP MLAs like Nilesh Cabral, Subhash Phal Desai and Siddharth Kunkolienkar were the shouting brigade of the BJP,” they said.
The MLAs condemned the three MLAs, wherein they abused and insulted senior legislators like Pratapsingh Rane and Digambar Kamat.
