VASCO: Reacting to the statement made by Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar on coal handling, St Andrews’ Parish Priest Fr Gabriel Coutinho on Friday said that he would believe on the statement only when Vasco becomes coal pollution free.
Parrikar had made a statement in the Goa Assembly that his government would ask the Union environment ministry not to allow expansion of coal handling capacity in the State and that he doesn’t want to make port town a coal hub.
“I will only believe when it happens and when Vasco becomes coal pollution free. I say this because many things have been spoken in past, but not many things have materialized; like the way it happened to casino issue where at one time Parrikar said something else and then said the opposite. At the moment the coal pollution issue is very serious for the people as they have been suffering. We must now see whether the government really takes necessary action which are pro people of Vasco or not,” he said.
“Also, we hope and believe that whatever Parrikar said on the floor of the House, he spoke with responsibility and with great seriousness. The only thing that raises questions over the statement is the fact that there is no deadline mentioned as to when Vasco will be pollution free. When political leaders themselves claim that the pollution is high in Vasco then why there is only statement and no action,” he questioned.
