Says nexus between government-Jindal-Adani-Vedanta to make Goa a coal hub
the goan I network
MARGAO
The convenor of Goa Against Coal, Custodio D’Souza has slammed Goa Forward for its U-turn on nationalization of rivers, and for false and misleading public statements endorsing multi-fold increase in coal handling at Vasco and the rest of Goa.
Goa Against Coal (GAC) further demanded that in accordance with the international commitments, with due regard for the lives and livelihoods of Goans and humanity at large, keeping in mind the fundamental duty towards the environment and the future generations, and in compliance with the polices and laws of the land, all projects for dredging (estuaries, bays, sea or rivers), expansion of dirty cargo/hazardous cargo through Goa, nationalization of common lands “ rivers, and road and rail connectivity projects for coal be stopped immediately. The NGO also demand that MPT be used for infrastructure for local fishing and city communities, cruise tourism and green cargo only, in accordance with National Policy and the 12th Five Year Plan.
He said that Goa Forward has deliberately lied to Goans regarding the policies of the country, how electricity is generated in the country or why coal is considered ‘dirty cargo’ by the government itself, and has also exposed its collusion with Jindal, Adani and Vedanta in their devious plans to make Goa a coal hub.
“Goa Forward has cleverly tried to protect the greedy, profit-seeking corporations by implying that this coal is for power generation for Goa, a big lie. As verified during the public hearings and from their EIA studies, there is no public interest behind these coal imports through Goa (better facilities exist on the East Coast), only to reduce freight charges for three corporations! By ignoring the destruction of fisheries, biodiversity, rivers, villages and the Western Ghats, Goa Forward has shown total disregard for our future generations, whose only wealth is the environment we leave behind,” he added
He said the five rivers and one canal which are proposed to be dredged - Mandovi, Zuari, Chapora, Mapusa and Sal rivers and Cumbharjua canal, are almost 410 km in length and are the lifeline of scores of villages and lakhs of people. “These rivers are common lands of the residents of these villages having fundamental and inalienable rights over the entire rivers. If these rivers are diverted for the use of rich corporations by declaring them ‘Nationalized’ we will have a socio-economic disaster of unprecedented scale. If these rivers are dredged, it will completely destroy their ecology as several million cubic meters of silt including the benthic communities which are the source of all marine life, will be dredged annually to maintain the draft in the navigational channel across 410 km of Goan rivers. All existing river bunds will collapse and our villages will be inundated. There will be no fish in Goan waters at all, if this coal project is not stopped. Even if the lives of fisherfolk did not matter, this coal will not spare other Goans either “ air pollution across the State, displacement and pollution along coal corridors (both rail and road), and the future threat of rising sea levels and failed monsoons due to climate change will get us all, unless we stop coal,” he said.
