VASCO
Cortalim BJP MLA Alina Saldanha on Monday expressed “shock and utter dismay” after claiming that Chief Minister Pramod Sawant had “shown least concern towards the misery and destruction the people of South Goa will face should the SWR track be doubled.”
In a press note, Saldanha said the members of VACAD (Villagers Action Committee Against Doubling) had met the chief minister at his office, three to four times to impress upon him on the destruction and misery that the doubling of the SWR tracks would bring about on Goa and its people.
“However, the chief minister seems to be obvious and talks about decreasing the quantum of coal to be transported. The three linear projects are major projects that can break Goa and destroy the lives of the people forever.”
“Has the chief minister, who is the head of the state, at least once, visited the tracks to study and be aware of the proximity of the present track to the houses of the people and what will be their fate should the track be doubled?” asked Saldanha.
“People living along the present SWR track are the same people, whose ancestors gave land for the first track around 100 years ago. To date, the government never bothered to ensure that the SWR puts in place facilities to make the life of these people easier.”
“Instead, the government is now out to further prejudice them by laying the second SWR track which will land within the compound of many of these houses,” said Saldanha.
The Cortalim MLA said development has to improve the standard and life of the people.
“In the name of development, the government should not be responsible for the destruction of the state’s environment, its heritage and the lives of the people of South Goa.”
“Once again, I request Chief Minister Pramod Sawant to save Goa from destruction by paying heed to the voice of the people who have time and again has appealed that better sense prevail as Goa is too small to have these mega projects,” said Saldanha.
