MARGAO
Asserting that former Chief Minister late Manohar Parrikar had completely opposed the double-tracking of the South Western Railway line, Congress MLA Reginaldo Lourenco reminded Chief Minister Pramod Sawant that the whole business of SWR double-tracking is meant only for the transportation of the two toxic and poisonous substances i.e coal and coke from MPT to thermal power and steel plants in Karnataka.
Expressing shock over the Chief Minister’s statement that Parrikar had never rejected the track-doubling project, the Curtorim MLA said Parrikar was blunt when he had stated that he had refused permission for double-tracking in Goa on grounds that the state does not want the project.
He said Parrikar was very clear that the project was meant for transporting coal and hence would not be permitted within Goa.
“We are not giving any permission for double-tracking …The proposal of increasing the tracks was mooted at the behest of few industrialists which want to transport coal from Mormugao Port Trust,” he quoted Parrikar as telling the media.
“I once again appeal to your good self to show your true character as a Niz Goemkar in disallowing the dangerous infrastructure projects, including the double-tracking of SWR line, destruction of Mollem National Park etc. The BJP government at the Centre is pursuing the selfish catastrophic infrastructure projects in Goa as it is driven by capitalists and it does not care about safeguarding Goa’s natural beauty,” he added.
