MARGAO
As the historic midnight agitation that brought thousands of Goans on the streets of Chandor for a night vigil against the three-linear projects marked three years on Wednesday, the battle seemed far from over, with the Civil society and activists vowing to fight the war till the movement against coal is taken to the logical conclusion.
It was on the intervening night of November 1-2 in the year 2020 that thousands of people from the nook and corner of the state had thronged Chandor at midnight to say no to coal and double tracking.
Much water has flowed down the river Sal since the last three years with the government completing the track doubling project on the Margao-Majorda section and the railways now bulldozing its way to lay the second track along the Majorda-Vasco stretch, only to evoke strong resistance from agitated villagers.
Activists and members of the Civic society, however, say the battle is far from over. If Vasco-based activist Shankar Polgi thundered from the historic Lohia Maidan, Margao on Tuesday, saying no to coal, social activist Abhijit Prabhudesai was categorical in saying the people of Goa will finally emerge victorious in the war against coal.
Abhijit asserted that the railways in collusion with the Goa government has completed the track doubling project at certain stretches, but the fact that the project could not be executed through the wildlife areas in the ghat section itself goes to show that the agitation launched by the thousands of Goans against the three linear projects stands vindicated.
“If one takes a glance at the Supreme Court order on the three linear projects, it is evident that these projects, including track doubling project is being executed to transport coal, vindicating the stand of Goans that these projects are all meant to transport coal and to make Goa a coal hub”, Abhijit said.
He added: “When we say that that battle against coal continues, we mean that the people of Goa will fight against coal, including track doubling, expansion of the highways, coal handling at the Mormugao Port etc”.
Citing an instance that the battle continues against coal goes unabated, Abhijit pointed out that the activists have filed a petition in the National Green Tribunal (NGT) challenging the Environmental Clearance granted to a company for doubling coal handling at the MPT.
“More recently, villagers of Loutolim hit the streets to protest against the land acquisition for the construction of the new high level Borim bridge. The bridge plan and the correspondence from the PWD, Chief Engineer clearly goes to show that the bridge is meant to link Borim to Mormugao for quick movement of coal. When the government could have zeroed in on one of the remaining six alignments and save the destruction of around two lakh square metres of Khazan fields, they have gone in for the seventh alignment since it is a shorter route to Mormugao Port ”, he said.
Convenor of Goencho Ekvott, Creson Antao said the Supreme Court verdict in the case has clearly vindicated the struggle of the people of Goa against coal. “Sadly, our very own government and the MLAs representing the people have let down their constituents by allowing the track doubling work when the project along the wildlife section has been stalled by the Court”, Creson added.
