The writer is presently based in Bahrain
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The recent developments related to the “Coal Handling Hub at Mormugao Port & Transportation Corridor” is a huge setback to the people of Goa. A part of the giant ‘Sagarmala Project’, this central government’s project has been steadily seeing an increasing intake of this ‘Black Killer coal’, with the allocation of additional berths and their huge expansion plans.
Whom is this benefiting? Goa is made a mere coal transportation corridor to carry millions of tonnes of coal to the neighbouring states of Karnataka and Maharashtra, where the nation's leading corporate industrialists own and operate numerous steel-producing and power-generating plants.
The delicate and fragile environment of our tiny ‘Mankullem Goem’ will not for long survive the damaging pollution and disastrous impact that this will have on our land, air and marine ecosystem and its biodiversity.
More so, the unsustainability and huge costs of this impact on the health of the people, flora and fauna, the cutting of trees and forests, loss of property and homes resulting from the rail double-tracking, four-lane highway broadening and the nationalisation of our Goan rivers “ all to facilitate high volume passage of Coal transportation will weigh heavy on the Goan Tax-Payer affecting our local economy. These effects will have far-reaching disastrous consequences for the Goan common man and its long-term damage costs will far outweigh the piddly benefit received by our State Government in terms of tax and revenue collected from this Coal Handling Hub & Transportation Corridor.
A shout out to all across the global Goan diaspora to “ for the love of our motherland and for sacrifices of our beloved ancestors for the beautiful Goa they bequeathed to us “ to use all mediums of communications via social media, network and stand together, hold hands with our fellow Goans on the ground in Goa, and extend support in whatever manner is possible.
