We have to save our environment. There could be an alternative to carry out the project without destruction of the environment. I am with the project but not in favour of destroying ecology
Tony Fernandes, St Cruz BJP MLA
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I cannot comment. The party will hold a discussion with the Chief Minister and then react on the matter
Francisco Silveira, St Andre BJP MLA
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It is a serious concern regarding the clearances granted for the three linear projects passing through Bhagwan Mahaveer Wildlife Sanctuary and Mollem National Park during the 56th & 57th meetings of the Standing Committee of the National Board for Wildlife. The doubling of the SWR track from Mollem to the extreme-end of South Goa will affect thousands of people not only within these forest areas but also outside the protected areas; destroying the environment, destroying the heritage of the State; and making it impossible for the people to live in their houses along the SWR alignment due to noise pollution and coal dust pollution, which is accompanied with heavy viz arsenic, lead, mercury, etc, which are carcinogenic. For the expansion of the National Highway 4A as well, there is a wide road with existing 7m carriage and there is no information on traffic volumes within the protected area to merit such an expansion, leave alone the need for an alternative. These projects will lead to destruction of endemic flora and fauna species. Let us not forget that these species are specific to the area and not found anywhere else in the world
Alina Saldhana, Cortalim BJP MLA
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I am supporting all the three linear projects because all the three projects are developmental projects. If any development is taking place, then I will never oppose it as all three projects are in the interest of the State. And development should happen. There will be some opposition, hurdles to every work. There was also opposition from some sections of the people even before the new bridge at Panjim came into existence. People had even gone to NGT against it but now don’t they use it?
Milind Naik, Urban Development Minister, Mormugao BJP MLA
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I am opposing the Doubling of Railway Track and the High tension power transmission line passing through wildlife sanctuary. I am of the opinion that instead of high tension power line, they can use Solar Power.
However, I am supporting the widening of the road (expansion of National Highway 4A) because I feel everywhere roads have to be broadened and widened, as this will help make people’s transportation faster.
As the Chairman of the Kadamba Transport Corporation, I know the difficulties of transporting passengers when the roads are bad. The government should clear the misconception amongst the people who are opposing the widening of the national highway that this expansion of road is done for coal transportation
Carlos Almeida, Vasco BJP MLA
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In the old days, our roads were known as the bullock cart roads. As time passed these roads gradually became the State and National highways. Based on the need bases the government has to take the call. Right now, I don’t feel there is a need for broadening the NH and don’t think there’s any NH broadening happening. Goa has always had sustainable development with due regard to the environment and protecting Goa in its true sense. Regarding the SWR project, it’s nothing new and something that has been going on for years. That’s how 300 kms of 370kms work has been completed. And in Goa, more than half of it has been complete and only a certain section of work is remaining. However I am firm that under no circumstances, more than the present limit of coal transportation should be allowed. As long as this happens, one should not block the broadgaudging (rail) because that is the long term thing for better utilisation of Port for import and export of other goods, which is the necessity. The govt has to convince the people that they will not allow a coal hub in Goa. Unless there is development, how can the employment, economic activities be created? Power is the indicator of growth. Goa grows in all ways in terms development, environment friendly industries but we get cheap power from the central grid. To get more power to match the demand which is increasing every year, we need more lines to get more power inside. As per my knowledge that there is a small section which comprises only about six towers, which comes through the sensitive area and therefore it necessitates cutting of trees through forest and rest of it outside the ecozone. Also, the broadguading sanction was done when the Congress was in power. Now various people from Congress who are now commenting are on record in the Parliament and in the assembly welcoming the union budget at one time when the broadguading was proposed.
Mauvin Godinho, Transport Minister, Dabolim BJP MLA
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I will abide by the decision of the party. The infrastructural needs of Goa during the last 10 years has increased tremendously and looking at the next decade, the infrastructure requirements, needs improvement without any doubt for me
Isidore Fernandes, Deputy Speaker, Canacona BJP MLA
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“If railway double tracking was for coal transportation, I would be the first one to oppose. Double tracking will benefit smooth rail transportation, no need to oppose it. Those who were supporting it two years back are now opposing it. Why? The Chief Minister has promised that there will be capping on coal handling, so the railway tracks will be used for passengers and other transport but not coal transportation. So again, I say, if it’s not for coal transportation, I am for double tracking. Four-lane road and power supply is needed. It is planned for the future as we may fall short in power supply in the future. Similarly, road widening is also needed, which is why I am for this development
– Clafacio Dias, Cuncolim BJP MLA
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I don’t want to make any political statement but I personally feel that Mollem is the lungs of the State, as it is an ancient forest and we need to conserve and preserve it and do things holistically. The pandemic has taught us a lot of things and we can’t take our natural ecosystem for granted and at the same time we need to preserve it. On the railway issue, I don’t think double tracking is required; it depends on what we are looking for and what is the end goal.
Joshua D’Souza, Mapusa BJP MLA
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There are two aspects to the issue – development and environment. Both should be taken care of.
Today there are new industries coming up in the state. There is power shedding in Karnataka and Maharashtra and we are providing uninterrupted power supply to residential areas. If the need arises, then we do power shedding of the industries here in Goa. Goa has to go forward and today tourism, industries, IT sector etc are growing. Every year residential areas are growing by about 5%. If we do not increase the infrastructure soon, we will lag behind and even the residential areas will not have proper power supply. We have to do minimum damage to environment and do development of the State
Pravin Zantye, Mayem BJP MLA
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There are some people who are exaggerating the issue. Those who talk about it might have never visited Mollem. I have gone there and have also visited the Netravali Wildlife Sanctuary.
The land required is only for six poles in the forest area while the sub-station and other things are outside the sanctuary. There are people who circulate rumors that 70 thousand trees will be cut while in reality, not more than 13,000 trees might be trimmed. At present there is no proposal of National Highway. It is just a proposal for next 25 years. Double tracking of railway, which is about 300 kms line is almost complete and only 70kms line from Collem to Casarlock is left. Even we are concerned with the wild life and sanctuaries and would never destroy them
Pramod Sawant, Chief Minister, Sanquelim BJP MLA
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Under no circumstance, the destruction of the environment should be allowed. It will permanently damage the importance of Goa. Goa has always been a tourist hub and if this type of destruction is done, what will be left?
Digambar Kamat, Leader of Opposition, Margao Congress MLA
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This is a Sawantwadi Government, not a Goan Government. They are anti-Goan projects by anti-Goan Government, both at the Centre and the State. It is planned to make Goa a corridor that will itself make Goa lose its identity. When the whole world is talking about solar power, we are speaking about transmission lines, when the world is talking of coal being a pollutant; we are talking about bringing of coal. Who can trust the word of the Chief Minister? He had given a word on Mhadei too, but the water is already diverted two months ago
Vijai Sardesai, Fatorda GFP MLA
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Projects at the cost of the environment are not tolerable after the 2020 pandemic of COVID-19. Nature has slammed on us and our priorities have to change now. No projects other than the ones which are sustainable in nature have to be allowed
Aleixo Reginaldo Lourenco, Curtorim Congress MLA
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My support to the Government was issue-based. I am with the people and I, along with the people, am opposed to Coal transportation through Goa. If not for coal transportation, let us know what the double-tracking of the railway line is for. All the industrial units of JSW, Adani are in Karnataka Maharashtra. Use the ports in those States, not the one in Goa
Churchill Alemao, Benaulim NCP MLA
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Chief Minister Pramod Sawant has assured us that the quantity of coal coming to Goa won’t be increased at all. In fact, he has said that if mining in Goa resumes the import of coal will further decrease. We have strong hopes on the assurances given by the CM. I am opposed to increasing of transportation of Coal in or through Goa
Wilfred D’sa, Nuvem BJP MLA
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All along the time, I have been opposing these projects. Between 2007 and 2016, I was out of Goa, but when I came back to Goa, I made sure that I opposed these projects. I have brought the Goa Daman & Diu Protection of Trees bill in 1980 and after much ado, the bill was passed and today it is a law, which I am proud of. As far as the three projects are concerned, they are issues, which are non-negotiable. Whatever I agitated against three years back in 2017 has come true today. Don’t make Goa a coal destination. Goa is a national and international tourist destination. It is a matter of my life for me. I fought for the Opinion poll, Konkani language, and Statehood and all these are success stories; and similarly I will fight till my last breath as far as coal pollution, double-tracking, and preservation of trees is concerned
Luizinho Faliero, Navelim Congress MLA
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The issues of the rail double tracking; 400KV power line; and widening are actually all one, because separately or collectively, they mean the destruction of the Mollem Biodiversity and the Western Ghats, which are the lungs of Goa. Reduction of logistics costs of Coal to facilitate power corporations cannot justify an environmental disaster
Rohan Khaunte, Porvorim Independent MLA
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The railway double tracking was passed by the UPA government in 2011 when Congress was ruling Goa. This is a 360km long project and now the NDA BJP government is implementing it. In Karnataka, 70% work on the project at Karnataka has been halted. It is not good to stop the project half way. Instead, the government should stop allowing handling of coal at MPT and coal transport from MPT, in the interest of the public. Then all the issues will be over. In this regard, the government should make its stand clear though that they will not allow coal to benefit the people. But it should not play a double game, which it did not the Mhadei issue.
However, the national highway from Mollem to Panjim is needed. At present, the tender process for the widening of Belgaum to Mollem to Panjim NH has started. The road was planned when I was the PWD minister. Money was sanctioned by the Central govt, which should not be rejected as it becomes unaffordable to stop. As decided earlier, the Anmod to Mollem road is widened to 9 metres. From Mollem to Panjim, there is need of four-lane widening with twelve metre width. It would not require cutting of trees nor is it harmful. There is need to construct some culverts and retaining walls along the NH. Regarding the 400 KV line proposed Mollem, I can’t comment as I don’t have enough details about the same. Meaning different figures are being given about the amount of trees that will be felled. Some say 60 thousand, some say 1 lakh, whereas the minister says not more than 10,000 trees will be felled. That is why, for the sake of clarity and in order to discuss all these issues, I have been continuously been demanding for a Goa Legislative Assembly session to be convened
Sudin Dhavlikar, Marcaim MGP MLA
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The railway double tracking is not necessary as so many houses will have to be demolished and cleared to make way. The double tracking of the South Western Railway is not required as the existing line is sufficient. However, I want the widening of national highway and it is essential as the Mollem road is narrow and highly accident- prone. The 400 KV proposed power project at Mollem is also essential as industries in Goa are increasing and in order to meet their requirement as well as the domestic requirement, this project is needed
Ravi Naik, Ponda Congress MLA
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The agitations are going on based on predictions.
I will not comment on these issues but I can guarantee that the government will not go against the interest of the State. It is working for the interest of the common man
Govind Gaude, Cooperation Minister, Priol Independent MLA
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I don’t want to comment on this. After all, what is required for Goa has to be done. The Chief Minister will be in a better position to comment on this
Manohar Ajgaonkar, Deputy Chief Minister, Pernem BJP MLA
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The opposition has failed to perform when they were in power. Now they don’t want to see the development we are making. For no reason they are opposing each and every project
Chandrakant Kavlekar, Deputy Chief Minister, Quepem BJP MLA
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Since the pending portion of four-lane national highway road through Anmod Ghat from Goa border to Khandepar in Khandepar has to be done by cutting the trees, we will speak to the Central government so that the same can be done by cutting minimum trees. Regarding the laying of transmission lines, it is required to solve the power requirement of the State for at least the next ten years. The 400 kw line will come up to Mollem and thereafter 220 kw line will go to Xeldem and Colvale substation respectively. If it is completed, Mollem and surrounding areas will get 24-hours power supply and it will also solve the domestic as well industrial requirement of the State of Goa. Given that the matter is now sub-judice, the government will give their say and proceed as per the decision of the Court. However, no coal hub will be allowed in the State. Some people say that the doubling of railway track line is being done to import 100 million metric tonnes of coal to MPT for onwards transportation to Hospet, which is not correct. Maximum it could be 15 from presently 12 million tonnes, which is transported by railways and roads and the same limit will be maintained even in the future. If the Supreme Court gives permission to export 20 to 25 million tonnes of iron ore, then there will be less activities of coal at this port
Deepak Pauskar, PWD Minister, Sanvordem BJP MLA
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The transmission line is 100% required as today there is sufficient power in the State but due to growing infrastructure the consumption, which is increasing extra 5% every year, otherwise people will face problems after some years. NGOs are saying that it is government lookout to put solar energy, but why is it not their lookout to put it in their own houses. Goa is blessed with greenery. Covered with 66% forest and 34% reserved forest and how much more is required. The Mollem power substation is planned in a private property and not in any forest or reserved forest land, neither in the wild life nor the national park. It is private land and purchased by the private partner of the Central government, who will put up the entire required infrastructure for the project. After its completion, the government will pay them consumption charges and once they recover their amount over the period of 30 years, the project will be handed over to the State government. The double tracking of railway lines is national development and taking place all across the country, and stopping the work anticipating that coal will be brought to Goa is not correct. We are of the view that no additional coal should come to Goa. The government is looking at how to block or minimize the quantity of the coal, which is presently coming. However, we are sure that whatever’s existing will continue for some time and we will bring the letter from the Centre saying that more than the existing limit of coal will not come to Goa. The MPT Chairman has already written to the Union Shipping Ministry informing them that certain things are not viable in Goa and based on that, the existing limit of coal will be maintained. The four-lane road is also a must. Vehicles including its size are increasing day-by-day and therefore four-lanes are required to avoid accidents. We have to protect the environment and human lives too. We have to grow the trees proportionately, which are cut
Nilesh Cabral, Power & Environment Minister, Curchorem BJP MLA
