MARGAO
Even as various groups are bracing up for the midnight showdown at the Davorlim level crossing on November 9.
Environment Minister Nilesh Cabral has virtually said the question of stopping work of laying the track at the level crossing does not arise since the government has taken a firm stand to cap the existing coal handling at the MPT.
He dogged and evaded a reply to queries raised by the media on the permission granted by the South Goa District Collector to the Rail Vikas Nigam Ltd to lay the double track at the Davorlim railway crossing by closing the road.
“The work on the double-tracking along the Chandor-Margao section has been going on for the last two and half years. People had never objected to the work. But, since issues over coal transportation over the double tracks were raised in many quarters, people had started opposing the track doubling project. Since the government has now decided not to allow more coal than what is being transported by the Railways, the issue of work on laying the track at Davorlim does not arise at all,” he said.
When asked why the people are coming onto the roads to stop the work, Cabral shot back, “there are cross section of people, including politicians, NGOs and others who are coming on the roads. But, when we are making the statement that the government is committed not to bring more coal into Goa, there is no issue left.”
Asked why the government is bringing the people on the roads on the issue when the trains may run on the double track after two years, Environment minister again shot back saying, “we are not bringing the people on the roads. They had apprehensions over coal transportation, but today we have clarified that the existing coal handling will be capped.”
