VASCO
Claiming that this is the second linear project to be rejected by the Supreme Court, Vasco-based environment activist Sherwyn Correia hailed the apex court for being in the forefront of environmental protection and being a beacon for supreme courts of other countries in environment-related matters
“We are fortunate to have had many activist judges in our apex court. It was one of the first courts to declare the right to clean environment as an integral part of the right to life under article 21 of our Constitution.”
“I am happy and relieved to hear that the Supreme Court has accepted the recommendation of the CEC to strike down the National Board for Wildlife (NBWL) clearance to the proposed double-tracking. This is the second linear project to have been struck down by the Supreme Court,” said Correia.
“We recall that the clearance was given in a meeting conducted in the most unusual manner and that too, in the middle of a national lockdown down in April 2020.”
“It is a victory for Goan youth who fought and opposed the three linear projects through social media, coming on the streets and even facing police action. We have sent a clear message to our older generation that they need to leave behind something on the Earth that will sustain us in our lifetime and for our future generations and not to be selfish,” said Correia.
Correia congratulated all those involved in opposing the project and to Julio Cedric Aguiar, who departed about a year ago
Last month, the Supreme Court has accepted the Central Empowered Committee’s (CEC) recommendation to utilise the existing 220 KV powerline alignment in Goa instead of cutting down fresh forest cover, to lay a new 400 KV line as part of the Goa-Tamnar transmission project.
