Goa citizens’ collective warns Gadkari over coal berths expansion

Panaji, June 27 (IANS) Accusing Union Minister Nitin Gadkari of slighting "popular opposition" against the proposed redevelopment of two coal berths at Goa's only major port, a citizen's collective on Tuesday threatened an agitation if the coal-handling berths at the Mormugao Port Trust were expanded.

"At the public hearings, not a single person said that they were in favour of the expansion plans. How can he say that it was only a minority," spokesperson for the collective, Goa Against Coal, Custodio D'Souza said at a press conference on Tuesday.

Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Gadkari, during a meeting with local businessmen some days back, had said that only a "microscopic minority" was opposed to development in Goa.

"The Union Government has enough money to carry out development work. However, there is a microscopic minority, which is anti-development and is proving to be an obstacle in the development of the state," Gadkari had said.

The proposed redevelopment of the coal handling facilities at the Mormugao Port Trust, the only major port in Goa, is expected to increase import of coal from the current 12 million tonnes to 51 million tonnes by 2030.

"Rather than targeting us, there should be action against them for going ahead with such projects without any permissions whatsoever. If they go ahead with their projects, we promise that there will be an agitation," D'Souza said.