Cortalim MLA Antonio Vas, along with social worker Roquezinho D’Souza and fishermen leader Alistom Pinto, addressed a press conference regarding the Praradeep Phosphates Ltd pipeline controversy at Velsao beach. The press meet, held at Keserval Hotel on Saturday afternoon, aimed to refute allegations from Congress leader Olencio Simoes and provide clarity on the environmental issue.
Vas began by denying Simoes’ accusations, emphasizing that the pipeline had been a longstanding problem, causing significant marine pollution and fish mortality over the past 50 years. “When I was informed about this by social worker Roquezinho D’Souza and fishermen leader Alistom Pinto, I immediately took action,” Vas stated. “I wrote a letter to the Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB) and to the company, though I have not received a reply from them to date. However, I did not stop there; I continued to follow up with GSPCB regularly, applying pressure, which ultimately led to the dismantling of the pipeline by the company.”
Vas expressed frustration at Simoes’ claims, urging him not to mislead the people of Cortalim. “Simoes has been talking about the flooding issue in the farmland, but he should realize that this is a natural occurrence,” Vas argued. “I have been a farmer all my life and have assisted farmers with tractors and harvesting machines. I challenge Simoes to enter the farms; I will give him my equipment. Let him use the machines in the flooded farms and see for himself the difficulties farmers face. Simoes is neither a fisherman nor a farmer and must stop speaking on such issues to misguide the people.”
Roquezinho D’Souza and Alistom Pinto also spoke during the joint press conference. D’Souza highlighted the adverse effects the pipeline had on the local ecosystem, causing severe harm to the fishing community’s livelihood. “The pollution has been a silent killer for our fish and a source of despair for our fishermen,” he said. Pinto echoed these sentiments, stating, “Our demands were simple: we wanted a cleaner sea and safer conditions for our fish. Thanks to the persistent efforts of MLA Vas, we have finally seen action taken against the pipeline.”
The conference underscored the collective efforts of the local leadership in addressing environmental concerns and protecting the interests of both farmers and fishermen in the region. Vas’s call for Simoes to understand the ground realities of farming and fishing highlighted the ongoing political tensions but also aimed to bridge the gap between differing viewpoints for the community’s betterment.