Chief Minister Pramod Sawant listens to dozens of children who called on him with a representation demanding a halt to coal transportation in the State on Sunday.
PANAJI
Chief Minister Pramod Sawant, who was on Sunday met by dozens of children telling him they do not want coal in Goa as it will trigger multiple health issues responded saying he too was of the same view.
"Makai naka (I too don't want)" Sawant said getting into a conversation with the children who went and met him with a representation demanding a halt to coal transportation in the State.
The children's action is part of a series of protests gaining ground in Goa against projects threatening protected forests at Mollem and which are suspected to be cumulatively for facilitating transportation of coal between MPT and North Karnataka.
Sawant sought to explain to the children that his government is committed to reduce and minimize coal transportation through Goa but insisted that it will need time and switching to alternatives.
He claimed alternative transportation systems are being explored which could bring down coal handling at MPT.
Sawant claimed a special committee has been constituted by Union Ports Minister Mansukh Mandviya, which is seized with the issue of sanctioning proposals like ropeway and also RORO to cut by half the amount of coal handled by MPT.
Apart from asking him to stop coal transiting through Goa, the school children who met Sawant at his residence on Sunday also urged him to scrap the three Centre sponsored projects which threaten protected forests in Mollem National Park and Bhagwan Mahavir Wildlife Sanctuary.
Sawant also brought forth his own school going daughter and told the children that he considers them like her and shares their concerns.
After the interaction with the children Sawant also posted a series of tweets and suggested his government will not make Goa a coal hub as feared.
The three projects -- doubling of South Western Railway track, four-laning of a national highway and a power project including a sub-station and laying of HT power lines -- have found stiff opposition in Goa with protests swelling over the last several weeks.
Nearly 70,000 trees, including in protected forests at Mollem are to be axed for these projects which got the nod from the National Board for Wildlife dubiously in a video-conference meet during the lockdown in April this year.
In another part of the conversation with the children, Sawant said it is not possible to abruptly halt coal handling at MPT.
Coal, he said is required to let some industries setup several years ago and which have nearly 20,000 people employed, who also have children like you.
"We must look for alternatives before shutting it down," Sawant said.
