the goan I network
PANAJI
Delegations from NGOs Goencho Avaaz (GA), United Goans Foundation (UGF), Goa Mining Peoples’ Front (GMPF), Goa Against Coal (GAC) and Goencho Ramponkarancho Ekvott (GRE) on Saturday met Congress national president Rahul Gandhi to discuss problems affecting Goa and Goans like mining, the Coastal Regulatory Zone (CRZ) notification, de-nationalisation of six Goan rivers, special status for Goa, ill-effects of coal-handling in Goa, among other issues.
Addressing media after their respective meetings, representatives of all five NGOs said Gandhi had heard their problems and demands, discussed alternatives to certain issues like the coal handling, and had even told some of them that they needed to get more involved with Goa. Representatives of various delegations told media that Gandhi had been open to discussing the issues and that they were “satisfied” with his response.
“Gandhi suggested that we contribute more towards Goa positively, especially politically, which we will be considering. The meeting was absolutely fruitful,” said Dr Aashish Kamat from UGF.
From the GMPF, Puti Gaonkar said that though Gandhi had promised the Congress would re-start sustainable mining, the GMPF would not be campaigning for the Congress alongside them, but would be campaigning from an “independent” platform. He, however, said that the mining dependents would “not vote for the people who stamped on our livelihoods.”
The GMPF also asked Gandhi for a senior advocate to fight the case in the Supreme Court, which he said Gandhi agreed to.
Meanwhile, GA spoke about special status for Goa with Gandhi, and Captain Viriato Fernandes said that Gaonkar had “reacted very positively.”
Fernandes also told Gandhi that as an “immediate confidence building measure, Goa wanted the return of the six rivers that have been clandestinely handed over to the Centre.”
Those aggrieved by the coal pollution in Vasco said that besides asking them about the ill-effects of coal pollution, Gandhi also asked them which were the alternatives they were okay with, and they said green cargo, Sanjay Redkar from GAC told “The Goan.”
“We told him that green cargo was alright. Coal handling is against the 12th five year plan. According to the plan, they have to shift the dirty cargo from the port according to the government’s policy,” said Redkar, who also explained to Gandhi how they were worried that the amount of coal-handling in future would increase and be life-threatening. “He was responsive and asked for more details,” said Redkar.
Olencio Simoes, Vice-Chairperson of National Fishworkers Forum (NFF) spoke with Gandhi about the denationalisation of the rivers, as well as how CRZ 2019 would be a dark era for Goa.
