Margao: Ek Pavl Ekcharachem, on Wednesday, appealed to the central empowered committee that is visiting Goa to inspect the contentious projects passing through Bhagwan Mahavir Wildlife Sanctuary and Mollem National Park by taking into consideration the scientific evidence, ground reality and pubic concerns.
Addressing the media, Captain Viriato Fernandes along with Vikas Bhagat, and others said they would also be “presenting a memorandum to the CEC and explaining the entire conspiracy and irreversible implications on the state and its people as the three projects are meant to benefit only a few capitalists through coal transportation.”
Fernandes said that “over 80 organisations that have come together to oppose the destructive projects would like to appeal to the CEC that damage and destruction to the state and the people of Goa in the event of these projects will have far reaching consequences both environmentally and economically.”
He pointed out that “there have been major deviations from the standard procedures and rules and regulations laid down and various government departments have compromised under the pressure of the capitalists,” adding “this will eventually lead to the damage and destruction of the forests which are the lungs that sustain Goa.”
They charged that if the project goes ahead it will also destroy tourism in the state and warned that the people of the state would also suffer with health issues related to dust pollution caused by transportation of coal dust.
They also charged that “the government has a hidden agenda with respect to the Sagarmala project, which was solely meant to help the capitalists in setting up exclusive economic corridor for coal transportation and hazardous cargo that would destroy the livelihood of fishermen.”
