MARGAO: Social activists and environment warriors from every village in Goa will participate in a massive bike rally on October 30, in a bid to protest against the draft Jetty Policy 2022 and make a statement against the nationalisation of rivers.
With support for the cause pouring in from various quarters, the rally is expected to include thousands of agitators on their bikes, and will commence from a starting point marked in every village and end at Azad maidan, Panjim, where the protestors will raise their voices against the nationalisation of rivers, MPT (Port Limit) jurisdiction, Sagarmala programme and the draft Jetty Policy.
People from Raia, Lotoulim, Camurlim, Chandor, Borim, Shiroda, Orlim, Carmona, Cavelossim, Assolna and citizens from other villages in South Goa have confirmed their participation.
“We will not sit quietly until and unless the Jetty Policy 2022 is scrapped, as the provisions made in the policy will destroy the state of Goa,” said Xavier Fernandes, a social activist from Loutolim. He alleged that Tourism Minister Rohan Khaunte is misleading the public on the policy, and alleged that it is a back door entry for coal transportation within the State.
Custodio Dias, another social activist, told Herald that people of Goa will show their opposition for the jetty policy besides the nationalisation of rivers, port limit and Sagarmala programme, through this bike rally.
“How can the government just come out with policies without taking the stakeholders into confidence? We will lose our livelihood and more importantly, our tiny and beautiful state of Goa will be destroyed completely,” he claimed.
Meanwhile, the Tourism Department has extended the time period for the public to file objections and suggestions about the jetty policy to October 31.
