Margao: South Goa MP Francisco Sardinha on Wednesday urged people to oppose any move by the government to construct new jetties anywhere in the state.
He said any such proposal was aimed at only increasing the state’s coal-handling capacity.
“We don’t want jetties just about anywhere they want. They are doing that only because of coal,” Sardinha said while addressing mediapersons at the Congress South Goa district office in Margao.
He added, “So please don’t allow them to build more jetties. Saving Goa is not a task only for politicians to do, people should also come forward to save Goa.”
Sardinha also reiterated his demand that the double-tracking work of the railways between Margao and Vasco be stopped forthwith. “We don’t want development at the cost of our environment and heritage,” he said.
“The ban on sand extraction hasn’t stopped illegal mining. It has only increased corruption,” Sardinha said.
“Besides, if sand is not extracted, siltation will occur in river channels. Sand extraction by traditional methods should be allowed to resume.”
Sardinha added, “The use of machines for illegal extraction of sand has led to the destruction of bunds.”
