PANAJI
Chief Minister Pramod Sawant once again trained his guns at Goans overseas for supporting the ongoing agitation against Centre-sponsored infra projects which are feared will threaten protected forests in Mollem National Park and Bhagwan Mahavir Wildlife Sanctuary.
Sawant on Thursday reiterated his commitment to protect Goa's forest and Mollem should not be a worry for "outsiders" in an obvious reference to many expat Goans backing the swelling agitation.
"Many people are concerned about Mollem and Mhadei (river). They feel we are not worried about it at all. People comment about Mollem from London or other places. We are also worried about Mollem," the Chief Minister said at an official government event he attended in his Sanquelim constituency.
The three projects - - double tracking of the South Western Railway track, four-laning of National Highway 4A and a private power project involving laying inter-State transmission lines - have faced stiff and persistent opposition with an agitation swelling in recent weeks.
Sawant in his speech in Sanquelim also sought to justify the private power project at Mollem by arguing that people in Mollem faced power supply issues and need electricity.
The specific power project - - The Goa Tamnar Transmission Project Limited - - is proposed by Vedanta promoted Sterlite Power.
It's objective is to wheel power from a Chhattisgarh and supply to the Goa grid.
