MARGAO
Around 50 Congress party workers led by Leader of Opposition Digambar Kamat and GPCC Chief Girish Chodankar staged demonstrations at the South Western Railway headquarters in Hubballi on Tuesday demanding stoppage of double-tracking work from Vasco to Londa, asserting the project will destroy Goa’s identity and environment.
Calling for the scrapping of the project, the GPCC Chief and Opposition leader submitted a memorandum to the Additional General Manager of South Western Railway Prashant Kumar Mishra, drawing his attention to the complete opposition to the work in Goa. They also warned him that protests will grow if Railway Vikas Nigam Ltd does not take cognizance which may eventually lead to law and order problems in the State. Both the leaders demanded that the work of doubling of tracks must be stopped and the entire project scrapped.
Congress functionaries Sankalp Amonkar, Amarnath Panjikar, Janardhan Bhandari, Joseph Dias, Vijay Bhike, Royla Fernandes, Denica Almeida, Damodar Shirodkar, Varad Mardolkar, Sachin Parab, Dashrath Mandrekar, Abhijit Desai, Meghashyam Raut, Glen Cabral and others raised slogans holding placards like Only ‘Goal Say No to Coal’, ‘Save Mollem from Destruction’, ‘Bandh Karo Bandh Karo Double Tracking Bandh Karo’ and ‘Amka Naka Amka Naka Kaalo Kolso Aamka Naka.’
SWR Additional General Manager P K Mishra assured the delegation to take up with higher authorities the concerns raised by the Congress party and try to find a solution. He said that protecting the nature of Goa
was important and the duty of all.
In a statement, Leader of Opposition Digambar Kamat said the Congress is committed to protecting the identity of Goa and its environment, adding “we will not allow the attempts of BJP Government to convert Goa into a coal hub. The Railway authorities must act wisely and stop the double-tracking work immediately failing which they will have to face serious consequences”.
Saying that the insensitive BJP Government is trying to convert Goa into a Coal Hub to help Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s crony club, GPCC Chief Girish Chodankar said the Congress has shown the trailer of its agitation during protests at Nessai, Chandor and Davorlim and at Lohia Maidan protest meeting.
He warned the Government that the protests will intensify if the work is not stopped and project scrapped.
Architect Royla Fernandes said the anti-coal and save Mollem protests have received support from renowned personalities from all across the State. “The Government must come to its senses and scrap the project,” she said.
Pointing to the picture of the famous Dudhsagar waterfall displayed in AGM’s office, Royla said that it is now the duty of the Railway authority to ensure that the waterfall remains lively, always.
Congress leader Sankalp Amonkar said the coal pollution has taken the entire Mormugao taluka into its clutches and people are suffering. If MPT does not stop handling coal than it will be difficult for people even to breathe, he added.
GPCC functionaries Joseph Dias, Vijay Bhike, Janardhan Bhandari and others also spoke opposing the coal transportation in Goa causing health hazards.
