PANAJI
Amidst growing opposition against the projects in the protected Mollem forest, the State government on Tuesday decided to go ahead with the three projects claiming they were needed for the development of the State.
Chief Minister Pramod Sawant along with ministers and BJP leaders met at the Chief Ministers' official bungalow where the decision was taken.
Emerging from the meeting, PWD Minister Deepak Pauskar told media that, "the government has decided to go ahead with the projects with minimum destruction of nature and not causing any hardship to people. People who have lost their land will be given proper and immediate compensation".
The three projects in Goa include the controversial double-tracking of the Vasco-Castlerock railway line, four-laning of the Goa-Belagavi stretch of the National Highway and laying of inter-State power transmission lines.
Power Minister Nilesh Cabral also defended the projects, particularly
laying of inter-State power transmission lines saying it aims to meet the future electricity requirements of Goa.
He said people from Mollem were not opposing the project but some outsiders were creating a nuisance.
Stating that only a few elements were opposing the projects, he challenged protestors to stay without electricity. Don’t these people use electricity at home, he asked.
Cabral said as the State does not generate its own power there is a need for extension of grid line to meet future requirements of the State.
Cabral further stated that the State has no role in the project which is initiated by the Central government.
Earlier too, power cables have passed through fields and jungles. This project is a continuation of the earlier process and there’s nothing new in it, he said.
"If you need development some destruction is bound to happen. We only need to see how it can be minimized ", said Cabral.
It may be recalled that former members of National Board for Wildlife (NBWL), conservation scientists, researchers, wildlife enthusiasts, tourism entrepreneurs and others from civil society in Goa and across the country have been protesting.
Campaigners over the last five months have also launched a sustained movement against the proposed three projects
Over the last 4 months, thousands of Goans have written to Union minister Prakash Javadekar objecting to the projects.
