‘Goans In opposition to Coal’, ‘Kollso naka, Kollso naka’, ‘Save Mollem’, ‘Double monitoring, treble hassle’. On a weekend morning Alexander Palace in Muswell Hill woke as much as a gaggle pf Goans marching in solidarity with fellow Gans again house. Far eliminated, in distance, the miles they walked bridged the hole between Alexander Palace and Arrosim, or Cansaulim, Velsao, Vasco and naturally Mollem. Whereas the setting was inexperienced and lovely, everybody’s thoughts was in Goa, with every recounting their house and their village.A lot of those that walked belonged to villages not removed from the nerve centres of the agitation in Goa. The Goan marchers in London recognized the double-tracking of the South West Railway line, growth of a freeway, an influence transmission line and the IIT challenge in Satarri, as the principle initiatives to protest towards in solidarity with their brethren in Goa. The Goan diaspora got here collectively sustaining strict protocols in place attributable to COVID 19 restrictions. The occasion deliberate on social media in lower than two weeks drew round 50 protestors holding placard’s strolling silently in assist of these agitating within the State of Goa, the stroll started at Alexandra place East Court docket via the Pond and completed on the Alexandra Palace West Court docket mentioned a long-time resident within the UK Januario Po who traces his roots to St. Jacinto Island close to Vasco and added the solidarity stroll drew many curious folks desirous to know why the federal government was working towards the desires of the locals. He additionally pressured on the necessity for the State authorities to search for extra sustainable initiatives and never for initiatives at the price of destroying atmosphere and disrupting lives. The voices have been clear “Please don’t destroy Goa, no growth at the price of atmosphere”, “Save goa for the long run generations”, have been the slogans that rang out. One other Goan, Cleto Fernandes initially hailing from Curtorim, voiced his issues on coal transportation and feared {that a} inexperienced Goa would quickly flip into black Goa, if the double-tracking of the railway challenge carried on regardless of peoples opposition. Comparable have been the views of Paxio Colaco initially hailing from Benaulim, who urged the elected representatives to listen to the voices of the voters as they’ve been elected to safeguard the curiosity of the residents. It was not simply Goans however associates of Goa who too joined in to specific solidarity with the folks of Goa opposing the environmental damaging initiatives One of many fundamental organisers of the occasion, activist Carmen Miranda acknowledged that the stroll was in response to the continuing battle of many communities in Goa towards the adverse impacts of coal transportation via Goa for industries in Karnataka, and varied different damaging initiatives most of them linked to move and coal hubs in Goa. She additional acknowledged that the occasion was deliberate to provide Goans residing within the UK to specific their deep concern concerning the rampant destruction of Goa, because of misguided, pointless and undesirable growth initiatives being imposed on Goa. It was determined throughout a short cease throughout the stroll to speak concerning the coal points, that it was time to re-activate Save Goa Marketing campaign UK which was began to struggle the battles towards mining in Goa. So now we’ll struggle the coal, railway double-tracking, the destruction of Mollem Nationwide Park compelled land acquisition for rail tracks and a number of other different linked points to growth initiatives rejected by the folks of Goa , particularly by the folks who’re within the entrance line of the direct adverse impacts from these developments. Ms Miranda additional knowledgeable that related solidarity walks are deliberate within the close to future, in areas the place there’s a massive quantity of Goan diaspora residing in London and hoped the Goa authorities takes discover of the voices from far and huge.
Author: ” — www.heraldgoa.in ”
