the goan I network
MARGAO
The Goa Against Coal has kicked off its agitation against plans to make Goa a coal hub and plans to nationalise Goan rivers and oppose the track doubling project, even as the organisation along with other activists held a meeting at Seraulim village on Monday.
The meeting held under the banner of Goa against Coal was addressed by local villager Rodney Almeida, besides activists Abhijit Prabhudesai, Avinash Tavares and others. The meeting at Seraulim assumes significance and comes against the backdrop of stiff opposition from Seraulim villagers to the track doubling project.
Rodney Almeida said that the Seraulim villagers had already sacrificed land for the Indian railways and Konkan Railway corporation, adding that the villagers are now strongly opposed to the track doubling project. He pointed out that the track doubling project should be abandoned by the government, saying the project is being mooted only to facilitate transportation of coal for the benefit of big industrialists.
He demanded that the government should restore the Goan rivers to the people, while opposing the plans to make Goa a coal hub.
Avinash Tavares pointed out that the Goa against Coal organization will hold public meetings across the state, beginning with the affected villages, which will be hit by the proposed track doubling project. "The activists have decided to go to the villagers with the avowed objective of spreading awareness amongst the people on the dangers posed to the populace by the nationalisation of rivers, track doubling project and to make Goa a coal hub", Avinash said, adding that similar meetings will be held across the state in the near future.
The meeting was attended amongst others by Olencio Simoes, Edwin and Diana Pinto, Roque Fernandes.
