‘Congress won’t allow Goa to be coal hub’

VASCO: In his first public interaction at Velsao as part of a one-day visit to Goa on Saturday, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said that the party would not allow environment degradation in the state.
He also went on to say that attempts to make Goa a coal hub would be opposed tooth and nail.
Interacting with the fishing community at Dando beach on his arrival from the airport, Gandhi said environment cannot be destroyed in the name of development and called for efforts to have sustainable development in the state.
Gandhi said, “Goa's environment is pristine and it needs to be protected. I will make sure that if Congress is elected in this beautiful state at no point it will be allowed to become a coal hub.”
Highlighting the need to keep Goa free of pollution, Gandhi said, “When my mother (Sonia Gandhi) is sick, she likes to come to this place. When I bring her here, she feels happy and healthy. This goes same with every person who wishes to come to Goa. So, I shall be protecting its environment for every individual that comes here, and of course for Goans.”
Gandhi, while responding to questions, said that, “Development is important, but when it comes to Goa, what is more important is balance. Balance between rich and poor, balance between sustainable development and environment, balance between anything and everything that the government does. It should not be that only a couple of rich businessmen take benefit and everyone else suffers on account of them earning more.”
Referring to what is seen in the country, Gandhi said that Congress wants to fight in its own way. “Congress believes in every individual has a right to get his space. If BJP gives its hatred, division and instability, we respond to it with love and affection and unity”.
Calling for unity, he said, “We need to stay united and show our power, that will be the best answer to the BJP regime. If we need to end the BJP then we need to stay united”.
“Whatever I speak here will become my guarantee and when in the ruling, all my assurances will be delivered or else I won't be able to face you'll. I want every Goan to wholeheartedly give their suggestions for our manifesto so that we reach out to fulfill all wishes of Goans,” Gandhi said.
The local fishing and toddy tappers community members raised issues like illegal fishing by Karnataka fishermen, hike of fuel prices, fishermen staying in coastal areas not getting permissions to rebuild their houses but big projects like five-star hotels coming up in CRZ areas. The toddy tappers community complained of cutting down of coconut trees in the name of development.