Panaji: Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Friday categorically assured the state legislative assembly that the government will never allow coal transportation by the Konkan Railway route in Goa.
Velim MLA Cruz Silva moved a calling attention motion in the House raising the concerns expressed by villagers, who fear that the railway stations at Sao Jose de Areal, Neura and Mayem are aimed at facilitating the transportation of coal and other polluting materials.
Hence the government must address the concerns by taking all stakeholders into confidence, Silva said.
Clarifying that the railways is the central subject and hence the state has limited roles vis-à-vis the railway station requirement, Sawant said the government will never allow coal transportation by the Konkan railway route.
Welcoming the Centre’s decision to set up the three new railway stations, the Chief Minister said the people of Mayem want a railway station to be set up.
As Silva opposed the proposed railway station in Velim constituency, St Andre MLA Viresh Borkar also raised an objection to the proposed railway station at Neura citing environmental concerns.
The Chief Minister assured that the government will carry out a study on the three sites by taking local MLAs into confidence and send a report to the Union government.
