the goan I network
PANAJI
Speaking to The Goan, CLP leader Chandrakant ‘Babu’ Kavlekar said that the decision was taken by the CLP unanimously and keeping in mind the sentiments of the public as displayed at the public hearings for the project being conducted by MPT, Goa State Pollution Control Board and the district administration.
“Before we could hold our CLP meeting, I along with two other Congress MLAs Wilfred D’Sa and Clafasio Dias paid a visit to the ongoing public hearings at Tilak Maidan in Vasco da Gama,”
Kavlekar said.
“After three days of hearings, and various presentations and expert views being put forth on the issue, the government should respect the public sentiments and drop its plans,” Kavlekar said.
He opined that if the plans go ahead, the entire fishing community would stand to lose their livelihood as well as the pollution caused to the Vasco city.
“No matter for whose benefit the project is being developed, be it Jindal or anybody, pollution is a very important factor before considering the project,” he said.
He warned that if the government still goes ahead and ignores the suggestions and objections of the people and grants environmental clearance to the projects by ignoring the local voices, the Congress party would stand with the people in opposing
the project.
The meet was attended by all Congress legislators except Aleixo Reginaldo Lourenço and Subhash Shirodkar, both of whom are not presently in the state, Kavlekar said.
Madkaikar sidesteps coal controversy
MARGAO: Power Minister Pandurang Madkaikar wriggled out of the coal controversy that has gripped the state following strong opposition brewing against plans to make Goa a coal hub.
During interactions with the South Goa MLAs in the District Collectorate, South on Tuesday, former chief minister Ravi Naik posed a pointed question to the Power Minister whether any denial by the state for the proposed plan to expand coal operations at MPT will adversely affect the power scenario in the state. “Will Goa be denied power supply in future if coal operations are not allowed by the state at the MPT?” Ravi asked while seeking an answer from Madkaikar.
The Power Minister, however, dogged the question, saying that he does not want to comment on the contentious issue. “This is a contentious issue which I would not like to touch at his interaction, which is purely to understand the requirements of the MLAs in their respective constituencies,” Madkaikar said, even as an MLA was overheard saying that no one can deny Goa electricity in future.
The Power Minister also refused to take any questions on the coal controversy from the media, offering no comments on the issue.
