Panaji (Goa): The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Goa Unit has decided to counter every attempt of the Opposition on the contentious coal handling and river nationalisation, which is being debated on every platform in the State. After holding media interactions explaining government’s stand on the two issues, the BJP is now trying to reach out to the people through its grassroot public representatives.
A meeting of all sarpanch, panch, corporators of BJP-backed panchayats and municipalities was convened wherein benefits accrued to Goa through the projects was discussed. The meeting also decided to take appropriate steps including awareness to curb the resolution which were being taken by panchayats against the project.
“We have detailed out the projects to the attendees and asked them to disburse the information to the people. The government is very clear that we are against coal pollution and have already opposed coal expansion. On the river nationalisation, the Centre will not be the owner of the six rivers of Goa. These are declared rivers of national importance. It is not nationalisation of Goan rivers but declaring of our rivers as rivers of national importance,” Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar told a press briefing late last evening after chairing the meeting of 500-600 grassroot public representatives and party karyakartas.
He slammed the Congress for unnecessarily raising controversy over these issues arguing the Opposition is creating confusion and giving out false information. The Congress party has been taking a series of press conferences expressing its reservations on river nationalisation and coal handling. The party has blamed the BJP for trying to convert Goa into a coal hub and alleging river nationalisation will see Centre controlling the six rivers which would further be used for coal transportation. .
On the issue of coal, Parrikar once again informed about his written communique to the Centre seeking ban on coal expansion this August. While taking a dig at Congress for initiating the coal handling at MPT, he claimed that the present government is making every effort to reduce coal pollution but strongly objected to protests against coal stating “if people do not want coal, they should stop using electricity.” “Goa is the highest for domestic consumption of power compared to national average. If the people are opposing coal, then reduce use electricity for domestic use. If anything has to be opposed, it should be the pollution level which we are combating,” he said also hinting at protests from various other groups.
The CM did not end here. He castigated the Congress for linking BJP with Adani in the coal handling business at MPT. He clarified that Congress had granted approval to Adani even as the latter had followed the procedure. “I will expose double speak of people. We are not favouring the Adani. It was in fact Congress that granted permission to Adani. I will table in the forthcoming assembly session details on which government granted first approval to coal handling, when expression of interest/tender/finalisation happened, etc,” he said revealing his plan to expose Congress over this issue. The assembly session is scheduled to be held from December 13-17, 2017.
While on river nationalisation, he stated that MoU will be accepted by the Center as per terms by Goa government and that all powers regarding rivers will remain with us.
“Declaring Goan rivers as rivers of national importance and coal handling expansion in Goa are not interlinked as stated by some opposing the projects.
A presentation will be made before all MLAs on December 11 regarding this. The decision on signing MoU will be taken only after taking the views of the MLAs into consideration, ” the CM assured.
He cautioned that if MoU between Inland Waterways Authority of India, MPT and Goa government is not signed, the IWAI will carry out development works across National Waterways and state will.not have any authority you monitor or supervise the kind of work.
Six rivers which are to be nationalized include Mandovi river (41km –NW 68), Zuari river(50km-NW 111), Cumbharjua Canall(17km- NW 27) and Chapora river (33km- NW25).
