PANAJI: A delegation of 'Goa Against Coal', a citizens' collective to oppose transportation of coal through Goa called on Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar to place before him the twin demands of eliminating Goa as a centre of coal imports and the ‘denationalisation' of Goa's rivers but returned disappointed to report that the Chief Minister instead of listening to their grievances only gave them his opinion on the issue.
Speaking to the media, Custodio D'Souza, the leader of the Goa Against Coal movement said that they would be left with no option but to intensify their protests against coal in Goa.
"He called us and did not allow us to speak. First, he only spoke what he wanted. He said: ‘Don't call yourselves Goa Against Coal, call yourselves Goa Against Pollution. Because there is pollution. So the CM has accepted that there is pollution in Vasco. Our stand is that not only in Vasco, but the whole of Goa we do not want coal," D'Souza explained.
"Our CM has told us that if there is no coal, there cannot be electricity. What kind of words are these? We do not accept this. We wish to say that we will not remain silent, unless coal is shut," D'Souza added.
Another member of the delegation, Cyril Fernandes sought to explain that there is no connection between electricity and coal handling in Goa.
"We have met the CM, and it seems there is some confusion in his head, perhaps he has been misguided by MPT over whom the coal that is coming to Vasco is coming for. The CM feels that the coal that is coming in Vasco gives us electricity. But that is wrong. But we have shown him that the coal that is coming is only benefits three persons -- Jindal, Vedanta and Adani. Jindal Vedanta and Adani do not give us power. Power is given to us by the centre. For the profit of the three, we do not have to suffer pollution," Fernandes said.
"If he knows all this (that there is pollution), then it is his responsibility as a CM of Goa and our guardian it is his duty to totally shut pollution. Not reduce, we are not seeking a reduction. We want a total shutdown on coal. We have placed this demand before him," Fernandes said
"We don't want coal in Goa even a little of it. We have also told him the history that coal is only a decade long phenomena and when the world is moving towards renewables, why should we be going backward? And that too for the profit of private players, we should also move forward. We should also use renewable energy," Fernandes added.
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GAC demand: Remove 6
rivers from the 'schedule'
PANAJI: The delegation of Goa Against Coal placed before the Chief Minister their demands that the six Goa's rivers that have been included in the ‘schedule' of the Nationalisation of Rivers Act be withdrawn.
Speaking to reporters after emerging from the meeting activist Abhijit Prabhudesai has said that their simple demand is that the six rivers of Goa -- Mandovi, Zuari, Cumbarjua canal, Chapora, Sal and Mapuça -- should be withdrawn from the schedule as the rivers are community resources used by the people of Goa for their livelihoods and nationalisation and consequent utilisation as shipping channels would deny these people of Goa right to use them for fishing and agriculture.
"We want that the Chief Minister impresses upon the Prime Minister that these six rivers be removed from this list," Prabhudesai said.
Speaking to the media, Custodio D'Souza, the leader of the Goa Against Coal movement said that they would be left with no option but to intensify their protests against coal in Goa.
"He called us and did not allow us to speak. First, he only spoke what he wanted. He said: ‘Don't call yourselves Goa Against Coal, call yourselves Goa Against Pollution. Because there is pollution. So the CM has accepted that there is pollution in Vasco. Our stand is that not only in Vasco, but the whole of Goa we do not want coal," D'Souza explained.
"Our CM has told us that if there is no coal, there cannot be electricity. What kind of words are these? We do not accept this. We wish to say that we will not remain silent, unless coal is shut," D'Souza added.
Another member of the delegation, Cyril Fernandes sought to explain that there is no connection between electricity and coal handling in Goa.
"We have met the CM, and it seems there is some confusion in his head, perhaps he has been misguided by MPT over whom the coal that is coming to Vasco is coming for. The CM feels that the coal that is coming in Vasco gives us electricity. But that is wrong. But we have shown him that the coal that is coming is only benefits three persons -- Jindal, Vedanta and Adani. Jindal Vedanta and Adani do not give us power. Power is given to us by the centre. For the profit of the three, we do not have to suffer pollution," Fernandes said.
"If he knows all this (that there is pollution), then it is his responsibility as a CM of Goa and our guardian it is his duty to totally shut pollution. Not reduce, we are not seeking a reduction. We want a total shutdown on coal. We have placed this demand before him," Fernandes said
"We don't want coal in Goa even a little of it. We have also told him the history that coal is only a decade long phenomena and when the world is moving towards renewables, why should we be going backward? And that too for the profit of private players, we should also move forward. We should also use renewable energy," Fernandes added.
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GAC demand: Remove 6
rivers from the 'schedule'
PANAJI: The delegation of Goa Against Coal placed before the Chief Minister their demands that the six Goa's rivers that have been included in the ‘schedule' of the Nationalisation of Rivers Act be withdrawn.
Speaking to reporters after emerging from the meeting activist Abhijit Prabhudesai has said that their simple demand is that the six rivers of Goa -- Mandovi, Zuari, Cumbarjua canal, Chapora, Sal and Mapuça -- should be withdrawn from the schedule as the rivers are community resources used by the people of Goa for their livelihoods and nationalisation and consequent utilisation as shipping channels would deny these people of Goa right to use them for fishing and agriculture.
"We want that the Chief Minister impresses upon the Prime Minister that these six rivers be removed from this list," Prabhudesai said.
