Team Herald
PANJIM: A group of youth, supporting the Save Mollem campaign, refused to accept Chief Minister Pramod Sawant’s statement that the results of the Zilla Panchayat elections indicated the people’s support towards development. They have instead demanded for an opinion poll to get people’s views on the alleged controversial linear projects.
“The CM said that ZP polls results reflected development… We want an opinion poll on what exactly people want,” said a member of a group addressing the media in the State capital on Tuesday.
The youth, most of whom comprised college-going students, slammed the government, and particularly the CM, for repeated contradictory statements on any particular issue. They also rejected the argument that the total voters’ turnout, as well as total votes polled in favour of the BJP, were because the electorate supported projects passing through the protected areas.
They were clear that the ZP polls were not to support the Mollem projects.
“It is the responsibility of the government to find an alternative (on power generation)… We have clearly said that we won’t allow coal in Goa,” added another youth, claiming that the projects are meant for coal transportation to other States.
In a statement released to the media the group said, “We are the generation that faces the effects of climate change, declining biodiversity, freshwater and arable land shortage apart from the effects of air and water pollution. We want you to realise whose interest you serve when you endanger our lives with coal transportation, we will not forget this.”
Seeking answers, in pointed questions they asked, “Where was the public interest of nationalising our rivers, making Goa a coal hub or privatising power at the expense of our forests? What exactly are the priorities of this State where we cut Goa’s Green lungs, sell our rivers and make it a coal hub? We are asked to attend college and school, while you don’t want to have a full Assembly session because of COVID?”
The group was also joined by a school going child, who argued that while teachers teach to save trees, the government’s act is otherwise.
