MARGAO
Goencho Ekvott on Monday demanded to know from the Goa government why coal is brought via the MPT when the states of Maharashtra and Karnataka have many ports that can handle coal in their respective states.
Addressing an impressive awareness meeting at Benaulim on Monday evening, Co-convenor of Goencho Ekvott Capt Viriato Fernandes posed a question to the government why the states of Maharashtra and Karnataka are not bringing their coal requirements via the ports located in these respective states.
“It is surprising that when both Maharashtra and Karnataka have many ports in their states, coal is being brought via the MPT to serve the requirements of these states,” he added.
Viriato gave a call to the people of Goa to wake up and join the ongoing movement so that the future generations do not question them for their silence in not opposing the disastrous projects.
Pooh-pooing claims made by certain ministers that the double-tracking project is not for coal transportation, but to boost passenger traffic on the South Western railway, Capt Viriato pointed out that the existing SWR line is catering only to 5-6 trains, while the Konkan Railway plays host to around 17 trains.
“If the government has plans to increase passenger traffic on the SWR, the existing line is more than sufficient to take the passenger load,” he said, while stressing that the double-tracking project is primarily designed to cater to the coal transportation to meet the demands of the corporates, including Adani.
Local villager Royla Fernandes made a power-point presentation on how the proposed western bypass road through the low-lying fields of Benaulim will inundate the village and destroy the environment.
She said reports prepared by various agencies have shown that construction of the western bypass would affect the environment and ecology of the village.
