MARGAO
In an interesting development, ruling BJP MLA Clafacio Dias on Friday asserted that he is ready to resign as Member of the Goa Legislative Assembly and stand by his people agitating against coal transportation and track doubling projects.
The Cuncolim MLA further assured the villagers of Chandor that he would immediately put up a note to Chief Minister Pramod Sawant and Rail Vikas Nigam Ltd General Manager (projects) to keep the ongoing work of track doubling in Chandor on hold as villagers have claimed that the work is being illegal carried out in a Church property sans permissions.
The Cuncolim MLA is the second BJP MLA from Salcete who have been questioned by their respective villagers on the track doubling and coal issues. Thursday had seen Sarzora villages calling on Salcete lone Minister Filipe Neri Rodrigues to ascertain his stand on the issues.
Clafacio made his stand very clear on the contentious issue after a group of Chandor villagers called on him during his visit to the village on Friday. The villagers were apparently seeking clarification from the MLA to his statement supporting the double tracking project
“Let me make very clear that I am not for coal. I had made a statement on double tracking after the Chief Minister and Power Minister Nilesh Cabral said the government will not allow any increasing in the coal handling capacity. It was on the basis on this assurance, I had stated that double tracking may not be a problem. But, my statement has hurt my people and supporters as a wrong message was sent I have no objection to coal”, he said.
The ruling MLA said people opposing coal transportation and double tracking projects are not convinced with the CM’s assurances after returning from Delhi. “People by and large still believe that the double tracking project is being executed to only transport coal. I don’t blame the people since the people have lost faith in all the political parties. I am also of the opinion that coal will come in the state in the future if one goes by the presentations”, he added.
Saying it is his duty to stand by his people opposing the controversial projects, Clafacio asserted that he would not hesitate to resign as an MLA on the issue.
When questioned whether he would support the government if the Chief Minister comes out with a clear statement on coal handling, the MLA shot back “if the CM comes out with an assurance, I will get the CM and the officials to the people and explain them on the issues. Whatever decision the people take will be acceptable to me”.
The villagers also took the Cuncolim MLA to the track doubling work site near the Chandor railway station and showed him how the work is being carried out in the Church property without permissions.
After inspecting the site, Clafacio said he will immediately put up a note of the Chief Minister as well as the RVNL to keep the work on hold since the people have claimed that work is being illegally carried out in Church property. “It is indeed surprising how land filing can take place in a Church property when it is even being acquired”, he said, adding “I may be part of the ruling party, but no one can stop me from speaking the truth”.
A local resident Savio D’Costa demanded to know how the railways can take up filling of land without permission. “Our MLA has decided to support the villagers. He has assured to stop the ongoing work in
the Church property”, he said, while demanding an immediate stop to the work of filing water bodies in the Church property.
