PANAJI: The opposition led by Aldona MLA Carlos Alvares Ferreira and Goa Forward leader Vijai Sardesai called for the scrapping of the contentious double tracking project that they said will come at the cost of heritage houses and lead to the destruction of the villages through the filling of fields, blocking of water bodies and the like.
Raising the matter during question hour, Vijai Sardesai questioned the urgency with which the government was forcing the project down the people’s throats, especially in sections where it wasn’t wanted.
“The Supreme Court has said — and I’m reading from the SC judgement — current movement of the railway rakes is 20%. The capacity and utilisation of the line is below 50% . A third railway line from Toranagallu to Krishnapatnam port would be a better alternative than connecting Mormugao Port to the Industrial Belt of Bellary District. Four-laning of National Highway 4A along the same route was being undertaken. NTCA approval is needed. If all these things are noted and you cannot complete the ghat section, what is your urgency in completing the [land] acquisition in the lower section,” Ferreira asked.
“If that (the ghat section of the project) is stopped, why are you insisting on completing this (the coastal section)? Scrap the project. This is a chain, it is a link. If this cannot be done, what is the use of doing the first part?” Ferreira said.
Sardesai who asked the question alleged that people’s houses and fields were being demolished and overrun.
“Why do we want this pollution, this coal? Acquisition is on for 14 metres from the centre of the existing track. The railway will reach right in the balconies of people. Karnataka has one major port and 12 minor ports. Why don’t you take it (the coal) there? Finally this coal is for Karnataka only, it is not for Goa. It has no benefit for Goa. Karnataka is 56 times bigger than Goa. This will be destruction if it goes forward,” Sardesai said.
“Why don’t you press for the scrapping of the project? The Supreme court has given an order. It has a steep gradient, it is a tiger corridor, bison, so many issues are there and at the cost of the heritage? What is our benefit to the project?” he also said.
Members Altone D’Costa, Venzy Viegas too raised the concerns and sought that the double tracking of the project be stopped.
“Whatever the SC has banned we have stopped. Nothing is being taken forward. It is not our intention to damage anybody’s house and we will be going forward preserving as much as possible. Whatever the SC has said to stop will be stopped. The Environment impact study is ongoing. But what has not been banned by the Supreme Court continues,” Chief Minister Pramod Sawant said insisting that he too was against pollution and coal.