MARGAO
Asserting there’s a direct link between import of coal, pollution and deaths, especially during a pandemic such as Covid, Goa Forward President Vijai Sardesai on Wednesday pooh-poohed Chief Minister Pramod Sawant’s statement that he has invited the Union Minister to Goa to assure Goans on capping of coal handling at the MPT.
He further demanded to know who is responsible for the 650 Covid deaths reported in Goa and whether the state is ready to face the second wave likely to sweep the country in December and January.
Speaking at a function organised by the Rotary Club of Margao Sunrise to felicitate 30 teachers with the Nation Builder awards and distribute contactless sanitizers to the health centres, Sardesai questioned, “Will the Union Minister, who hails from Gujarat, the home village of corporate Adani, do justice to the people of Goa?”
Sardesai further raised questions on the government decision to open schools from November 21. “Has the government made arrangements for extra teachers to teach students when the number of the latter in each class is restricted?” he questioned.
“We have a Chief Minister who advertised that Goa is in the green zone and invited people from a red zone like Delhi to come and stay in their second homes. We do not know what’s the exact Covid situation in the state, but who is responsible for the deaths of 650 people?” he questioned.
Further, demanding to know why people are still dying of Covid in the State if everything is okay, Sardesai said the government is not convening the Assembly session to discuss Covid and other issues. “Even the Governor is sitting in Maharashtra. It looks like Goa has been made a colony of Delhi,” he added.
Rotarian Dr Jorson Fernandes delivered a talk on how to handle the Covid situation, explaining to the audience how Rotary has been involved in sensitizing various groups and stakeholders.
Rotary Club of Margao Sunrise President Sandra Barretto said the club has honoured 30 teachers from South Goa with the Nation Builder award and distributed contactless sanitizers to the primary health centres in South Goa.
