WEDNESDAY, JULY 03, 2024
Team Herald
PANJIM: With the constitution of the 18th Lok Sabha and election of a BJP MP Shripad Naik in North Goa and social crusader Capt Viriato Fernandes in South Goa a battle royale can be expected in Parliament on the Tamnar transmission project.
Naik, a six time MP made a statement on the Tamnar project minutes after he was appointed Minster of State (MoS) for Power, “I think the State government had fallen short to convince the people about the project. Proper steps should have been taken to create awareness amongst the people on the need for development and the importance of bringing the Tamnar power line to Goa.”
On the other hand, Capt Viriato has been vehemently opposing the Goa Tamnar Transmission Project and is expected to continue his battle in Lok Sabha, giving an indication of a Goa versus Goa face-off in the Lower House.
Capt Viriato said, “Shripad Naik will be used as a rubber stamp minister to oversee the destruction of Goa's environment to achieve their goal of benefitting the crony capitalists.”
He added, “Our fight will continue whenever this government will be involved in destroying the environment. We have got documents from the CEC when things were being discussed around 10 years back. The Goa government was given eight options. The CEC had suggested that option six should be avoided because that will result in the destruction of the environment and there will be resistance from the people. But this government decided to go for option number six.”
Capt Viriato supported his argument by saying that “in his previous tenure, Naik had overseen the handing over of Goa’s assets like handing over of the coastline, diversion of Mhadei river and nationalisation of six rivers”.
One of the founders of Goencho Ekvott, an umbrella organisation of over 20 NGOs across Goa, Orville Dourado Rodrigues said, “Karnataka in its wisdom had recently rejected the Goa Tamnar Transmission Project Limited passing through its territorial jurisdiction (72 linear km through its forests) including 6.6 linear km through Anshi-Dandeli Tiger Reserve, as it would have irrevocably damaged the biodiversity of the area and affect the eco-system of Western Ghats apart from bifurcating the entire landscape is indeed commendable.”
“In sharp contrast, the reported statement by newly inducted Goan Union Minister of State for Power that the Goa government had failed to effectively convince the environmentalists makes one wonder whether the so called development should be at the cost of our environment when he should be pursuing and promoting renewable energy as Goa with a high radiation factor is suitable for generating solar power,” Rodrigues added.
Goencho Ekvott (GE) founder, Orville Dourado Rodrigues said, "The State Government of Karnataka in its wisdom has recently rejected the Goa Tamnar Transmission Project Limited passing through its territorial jurisdiction (72 linear km through its forests) including 6.6 linear km through Anshi-Dandeli tiger reserve as it would have irrevocably damage the biodiversity of the area and affect the eco-system of Western Ghats apart from bifurcating the entire landscape is indeed commendable."
"In sharp contrast the reported statement by our newly inducted Hon Union Minister of State for Power and Renewable Energy Shripad Naik that the Government of Goa has failed to effectively convince the environmentalists makes one wonder whether the so called development should be at the cost of our environment when he should be pursuing & promoting renewable energy as Goa with a high radiation factor is suitable for generating Solar Power," Rodrigues said.
"Before trying to change the views of the environmentalists, Shripad Naik must introspect, and introduce people friendly subsidy schemes for generating renewable solar energy which will be win win situation for all," the activist said.
Viriato Fernandes slams govt for persisting with Tamnar project
MARGAO: After his inaugural visit to the South Goa Collector's office on Thursday, the South Goa MP-elect, Capt Viriato Fernandes vehemently criticised the three linear projects, questioning the government's determination to transform Goa into a coal-handling hub.
Taking a veiled dig at the North Goa MP Shripad Naik and now the Minister of State (MoS) for Power, Fernandes recalled how the Supreme Court and a Chief Electrical Officer in the past had recommended that the Tanmar project does not take its existing route and instead opts for a better alternative that would not damage the forest, ecology and the environment.
He questioned the insistence of the State and Central government for pushing for this route that has already seen thousands of trees ‘officially cut and wondered how many more trees were unofficially cut.
The MP then felt all this was done for transport of Coal into and out of Goa with no benefit to the State even as Goa is suffering and will suffer more because of it. He criticised the government’s lack of emphasis on renewable power sources for Goa.
He also voiced concerns about the all-encompassing jurisdictional powers of the Mormugao Port Authority (MPA) and the nationalisation of Goa’s rivers, giving a clear indication that he is going to persist on the issues he touched upon in his pre-election campaign.
He also responded to the contentious issue of the setback suffered by Congress in Benaulim when one of its key leaders, Royla Fernandes, resigned from the party in order to contest the upcoming Benaulim Zilla Panchayat (ZP) by-poll against the INDIA Alliance backed Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) candidate.
Given that Congress is part of the India Alliance and have decided not to field a candidate, Viriato was quick to downplay concerns of a mini-revolt breaking out soon after the INDIA Bloc helped him win the South Goa Lok Sabha seat.
