MARGAO
Chief Minister Pramod Sawant with Nuvem MLA Aleixo Sequeira in tow descended at the Rassaim jetty in Loutolim village on Monday noon to inspect the jetty and is believed to have returned home after assuring the villagers that the government will not take up the controversial jetty at Rassaim.
A group of villagers, including anti-coal activists led by former sarpanch Xavier Fernandes, camped at the jetty since the morning after receiving information that the Chief Minister along with the local MLA is scheduled to visit the spot.
Around noon, when the villagers realised that the Chief Minister is visiting the site, they soon gathered at the spot to convey their opposition to the proposed jetty.
Anti-coal activist, Xavier Fernandes later told the media that the Chief Minister informed the villagers that he has come to inspect the jetty along with the local MLA and left after making a promise that the government will not go ahead with the proposed jetty at Rassaim.
“The Chief Minister has given the word that the proposed jetty at Rassaim will not come up at the site and we hope he would honour and protect the word,” Xavier said.
He pointed out that he has made a strong appeal to the Chief Minister that along with the jetty at Rassaim, other jetties proposed by the government across the State should be also scrapped.
“Under the guise of Tourism, the government has proposed to develop jetties across the State. But, these jetties are not proposed for the benefit of the people, but to make Goa a coal hub,” he added.
Saying that the jetty proposed at Rassaim will destroy Loutolim, Xavier made a plea to the government to also scrap the jetty proposed on the other side of river Zuari at Durbhat.
Villagers, who had assembled at the Rassaim jetty, echoed similar sentiments, saying the locals will never allow the proposed jetty at Rassaim come what may.
“We have made it very clear to the Chief Minister that we do not want the jetty for passengers, tourists, cargo or coal. The people requested the Chief Minister to protect the livelihoods of the locals, who are dependent on fishing,” he said.
Loutolim villagers had been consistent in their opposition to the proposed jetty at Rassaim, with the local panchayat and the Gram sabha unanimous in their resolution in demanding the scrapping of the proposed jetty. Anti-coal activists, along with the villagers, had taken out a rally last year in support of its demand for the scrapping of the proposed Rassaim jetty.
CM promised to study issue: Aleixo
MARGAO:
Contrary to the claim made by anti-coal activist Xavier Fernandes that Chief Minister Pramod Sawant has assured to scrap the jetty project at Rassaim, Nuvem MLA Aleixo Sequeira has informed that the CM has only promised to study the jetty issue and take a decision.
The Nuvem MLA, who accompanied the Chief Minister to the Rassaim jetty on Monday noon, informed that the Sawant has not handed out any assurance to scrap the jetty. “What the Chief Minister has announced at the Rassaim jetty is that he would conduct a study of the issue and take appropriate action,” Sequeira said, even as he pooh-poohed the claim made by the anti-coal activist that the Chief Minister has promised to scrap the jetty.
