MARGAO
A group of residents of Nuvem constituency on Saturday came out to oppose projects planned in the constituency, including the proposed integrated garbage plant on the Loutolim-Verna plateau.
While saying no to jetties to handle coal, the group demanded the return of the rivers, which have been nationalized for commercial exploitation as mentioned in the Sagarmala Master plan.
Addressing the media, Ramiro Mascarenhas called for a firm no to use of roads or rail to transport coal through the densely populated villages, endangering heritage homes and structures.
“We oppose the Major Ports Bill which gives autonomy to MPT to override governing bodies of the State. We do not want our natural khazans and mangroves to be destroyed as these are natural breeding grounds for endangered species,” he said.
Ramiro said the people of Nuvem are opposed to land acquisition and demolition of ancestral heritage homes and homes of the wild animals for double-tracking of SWR.
“The missing link has done irreparable damage to our natural aquifers and destruction of our khazan land. The felling of over 1100 fruit-bearing trees has already displaced indigenous wildlife and has caused economic loss to locals. So call for a halt to transportation of hazardous cargo like coal through our heritage villages further endangering the health of the locals,” he demanded.
Activist Zarina Da Cunha pointed out that the Verna industrial estate has thrown up several problems for the local populace. “The estate has now reached a state of saturation. We fear the contamination of the groundwater,” she said, adding that the industrial estate has also altered the demography of the neighbouring vilages.
Saying that the people of Goa are neither against the development nor against the government, Jose Raju Cabral said Chief Minister Pramod Sawant should know that these projects are going to cause irreparable destruction to the ecosystem, wildlife habitat and livelihoods.
Conchita Monteiro demanded to know whether any study has been made before taking the decision to set up the south goa waste treatment plant at Loutolim. “The site which has been finalized to set up the garbage plant plays host to a number of springs,” she said.
John Philip Pereira pointed out that around 196 bore wells were dug up in the Verna industrial estate around 10 years ago, resulting in depletion of groundwater resources. “Some of the industries are now transporting well water from the neighbouring villages. All this has to stop immediately,” he added.
