Say govt may have bulldozed with double tracking project at some places, but Velsao, other areas resist project; agitation to persist
File photo of the 2020 Chandor midnight agitation.
MARGAO
The battle is not over yet, thundered anti-coal campaigners as the historic 2020 Chandor midnight agitation against coal, including the track doubling project completed four years on Friday.
The anti-coal activists MP Captain Viriato Fernandes and Abhijit Prabhudesai were categorical in blaming the government for bulldozing with the track doubling project in certain sections in connivance with the Indian Railways. At the same time, however, the two activists have warned that the battle against coal will continue unabated to ensure that Goa is not converted into a coal hub by the government for the benefit of the crony capitalists.
In fact, it’s exactly four years now since thousands of Goans from every nook and corner of the State, had assembled at the Chandor railway crossing on the intervening night of November 1-2 in the year 2020 to protest against the laying of the double track at the Chandor railway station.
What had brought the people on the streets in the historic midnight agitation was the Railway’s plan to lay double track at the Chandor railway crossing on the intervening night of November 1-2. For, the then South Goa District Magistrate, Ajit Roy had already issued a public notice cautioning members of the public over the closure of the road on both sides of the Chandor railway crossing for five hours, beginning on November 1 midnight till 5 am on November 2.
Against this backdrop, thousands of people headed to Chandor to protest over the laying of the double track at the railway crossing.
MP Viriato, who was then a leading member of the NGO, Goencho Ekvott, asserted that the government must have bulldozed with the double tracking project at some places. He, however, hastened to add that the battle is not over yet.
“The people of Velsao and other places are still waging a battle against the double tracking project. This defiance only goes to show that the battle against coal continues. There will be no stop to the agitation till the government scraps all covert and overt plans to convert Goa into a coal hub,” he asserted.
Activist Abhijit Prabhudesai, the co-convenor of NGO, Goyant Kollso Naka echoed similar sentiments. “The government might have laid the double track on certain stretches in Goa, but the track doubling project is yet to get the nod on the Western Ghats section. The government had plans to convert Goa into a coal hub as per the Sagarmala project, but the people’s agitation has put spokes in all plans,” he said.
Abhijit added: The historic Chandor midnight agitation was a symbolic one, which will go down in the State’s history after thousands of people hit the streets on the midnight of November 1, 2020. I would say the people have already tasted success since the corporates in connivance with the government had plans to import millions and millions of tons of coal via the Mormugao Port.”
Goencho Ekvott convenor Creson Antao said the Chandor midnight agitation had not only brought Goemkars together to protect the State from destruction, but spread awareness on the diabolic plan to convert the State into a coal hub.
South Goa MP not to seek exemption from case, to attend all hearings
MARGAO: South Goa MP Captain Viriato Fernandes has said he would not seek exemption from appearance, but would attend all hearings in the case foisted on him and other activists by the Goa Police in the Chandor midnight agitation case, as the matter has reached the stage of arguments before Judicial Magistrate First Class, Margao.
“I am not a criminal and I will not run away from hearings of the case. I along with other nine activists had all descended at Chandor for Goa and to protect the State for posterity. We have not committed any crime. Since now I am a Member of Parliament, I may be entitled for exemption from appearance, but I have decided to stand in the accused box along with the other activists charged in the case. Justice will prevail,” he said.
Activist Abhijit Prabhudesai, who is also named as an accused in the case by the Maina-Curtorim police for unlawful assembly, said the police has foisted false cases to stop the activists and people from continuing with the agitation. “What crime have the people of Goa committed when their one point demand was to save Goa from becoming a coal hub? Truth will prevail. No amount of false and fabricated cases foisted by the government will deter the people from saving their State from destruction,” Abhijit asserted.
He added: “Where is the question of the people causing obstruction to traffic on the Chandor railway crossing road when the district Collector, South had notified the road closure on November 1-2, 2020 to lay the double tracks.”
