Team Herald
PORVORIM: In a private member resolution raised jointly by Curtorim MLA Alexio Reginaldo Lourenco and Fatorda MLA Vijai Sardesai, regarding the three linear projects, the latter stated that the area, which these linear projects pass through, form the biggest relatively undisturbed patch of Western Ghats forests which cover about 2,200 sq kms.
The Goa Forward Party (GFP) President in his address said, “There is no evident ‘public purpose’ for these projects, and they are against the interests of the people of Goa.”
Sardesai pointed out that “till date there has been no transparency from the government regarding the actual need or purpose for each of the 3 projects.”
The Fatorda MLA questioned whether the higher powered TM transmission line and the new substation at Sangod are needed at the cost of destruction of valuable trees and flora and fauna in the area.
The former Deputy Chief Minister added, “The Chief Minister claims that if the transmission line is not constructed within 2 years, Goa will have a power shortage. But what he should be promoting for a ‘Swayampurna Goa’, is the push for solar power generation, which can meet the targets set out by the Central government, which would place us in a self-reliable position where we will not need any more allocation from the Central Grid other than what we get today.”
Furthermore, Sardesai pressed the government and asked what the haste for the project was and pointed out that during the COVID-19 pandemic “the BJP government completely exploited the lockdown phase and didn’t even allow Gram Sabhas to be held threatening them under Section 144.”
Sardesai concluded saying “over 100 panchayats have passed resolutions in Gram Sabhas rejecting coal, and more than 3,000 citizens have filed objections to the proposed land acquisition for double-tracking. The students, youngsters and children are protesting over social media, but this government does not want to listen to the people, and instead of making the state ‘swayampurna Goa’ under Pramod Sawant, it is becoming ‘Salazar’s Goa again.”
