PANAJI
Leader of Opposition Digambar Kamat, Curtorim MLA Aleixo Reginaldo Lourenco and Porvorim MLA Rohan Khaunte on Saturday met the members of the Supreme Court constituted Central Empowered Committee (CEC).
Speaking to the media after meeting the CEC at a hotel in Panaji, Kamat stated, “I had written to the CEC a few days ago when some delegations came to me with representations and requested me to bring all the facts to the notice of the CEC. In my letter to the CEC, I had listed all the apprehensions voiced before me, the doubts raised by the people of Goa in respect to these three linear projects and also import of coal.”
The Leader of Opposition said that he decided to meet the members along with some colleagues to brief them about the actual positions.
“They have visited most of the areas such as Mollem, Mormugao Port Trust and the members are well versed with most things about Goa. P V Jayakrishnan knows lots of things about Goa as he has served in Goa as Chief Secretary. We merely wanted to discuss the issues with these members and they heard us out,” Kamat explained.
An agitated Khaunte said that he voiced his express opposition to the three projects before the CEC. “Principally, the projects are not required for Goa. Why have these projects been brought to Goa is the real question. Mollem being put in three different parts for environmental clearances straight away shows that there is something more to it than what is being seen,” he stated.
“Wrong information going out from Rail Vikas Nigam for promotion of coal transport when Goans have already said no to coal is sinister. When we are talking about being a tourist state and a knowledge-based economy, we are waywardly going different with this coal transport plan,” Khaunte said.
Reginaldo sought to point out that the government has failed to replace the old and large trees axed down for the widening of existing highways. “Right from river nationalization to increased privatization of MPT to these three projects, everything is in favour of coal transportation. Projected increase in power requirement is hardly five to 10 per cent. At the cost of Goa’s wellbeing, the government wants to have development. What kind of unsustainable development is this?” he lambasted.
Reginaldo informed that the MLAs will soon submit their written objections to the central government vehemently opposing the three projects.
