Panaji (Goa): The anti- river nationalization crusaders under the banner ‘Our Rivers Our Rights’ has petitioned Prime Minister Narendra Modi seeking his immediate intervention to remove all the six Goan rivers from the National Waterways Act, 2016.

The citizens have also called on Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar demanding not to sign the tripartite memorandum of understanding (MoU) on the proposed nationalization of rivers.

“People all over Goa are furious and up in arms against the totally illegal, unconstitutional and anti-national attempt to usurp six rivers that belong to Goan communities using the National Waterways Act, 2016, only for a few private and foreign corporations who wish to abuse Goa and her rivers for coal transportation to reduce freight costs,” the citizens said in their petition before Prime Minister.

Prime Minister is been informed that the gram sabhas across the State are spontaneously and unanimously resolving to oppose the river nationalization and coal projects.  They said that conservation of rivers should be the only focus of the government.

“We demand that Prime Minister recognize the urgency of the situation and immediately intervene to remove all six Goan rivers from the Schedule attached to the National Waterways Act, 2016 and also drop plans for using Goa for coal transportation,” they demanded.