PANJIM: Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar stoked a controversy when he said that those wanting coal transportation through the State to be stopped should be willing to give up use of electricity.
Addressing the inaugural function of Kalakirti Goa Environmental Festival, Parrikar said, “There is a pollution of the coal and we should stop the pollution. But if you stop import and every person decides that no coal will be used then how do you get electricity? Goa is enjoying zero pollution electricity because none of the electricity that we consume is manufactured in Goa except the garbage one and the fuel gas generation by Sesa Goa.”
He reiterated that except the two small plants, the State does not generate electricity but citizens want electricity for consumption. “Then you will have to share the part of the damage,” he added.
Going back in time and recollecting the time when iron ore mining in Goa was banned, Parrikar said, “There has to be a balance between activism and development. There were a few fellows who came to me when mining was banned and they advised me to stop mining permanently. It was stopped also, but I said I will not restart it also provided you start using bicycle and not a car in which you came. Because, if you want to use car then don’t say that you should stop totally the activity as you are consuming steel which comes from that mine.”
Speaking on the mantra to save the environment, “One of the ways is to multi-use or use it one more time than you feel it can be used. Secondly, stop using things which are not required and reduce consumption. I cannot reverse the clock of development but I can reverse the clock of destruction.”
Renowned wildlife film maker Shekhar Dattari said, “We Indians can return to reverence of nature only when plants and animals are treated as non-human citizens.”
