OLD GOA
Congress leader Rudolf Fernandes has started an awareness campaign in St Cruz constituency to drum up support for the anti-coal movement, which is gaining momentum in the State.
From November 17, Fernandes along with NGO Goa Helping Hands are involved in organising corner meetings in different parts of St Cruz constituency to create awareness on the ill-effects of coal transportation and to garner public support for the December 13 mega meeting which will be held at Santa Cruz ground at 5 pm.
When questioned by The Goan on the issue, Fernandes said he is just following the footsteps of his late mother Victoria Fernandes, popularly known as Mummy, who would have been in the forefront of the agitation if she was alive.
“Whenever the government brought projects detrimental to the future of Goa and its people, Mummy was always in the forefront opposing the same. Had she been alive, she would have been in the forefront in the anti-coal agitation,” said Fernandes, while adding he is just following into her footsteps.
“All over Goa, people are opposing the move of the government to bring in various projects for coal transportation and the people of St Cruz cannot be left behind.”
“Therefore, our NGO Goa Helping Hands has taken the lead in creating awareness among the people on the ill-effects of coal transportation in the State,” he informed.
He said the awareness meetings will culminate in a mega meeting at the Santa Cruz ground on December 13 at 5 pm.
“At the December 13 meeting, our future course of action will be chalked out,” he added.
“Earlier, we thought that the expansion of highways and building of bridges was for the benefit of the people but now we have realised that it is for coal transportation,” Fernandes further added.
In the three days thus far, corner meetings have been held at Dovornem and Carmichem Bhat in Merces, Cujira, GMC-Bambolim and other areas in St Cruz constituency.
