Rail freight terminal over my body: Cabral

MARGAO: Curchorem BJP MLA Nilesh Cabral on Sunday reassured villagers of Assolda of his support in opposing the rail freight terminal (RFT) for handling coal and other mining cargo, proposed to be set up at Xelvona by Sociedade de Fomento Industrial Pvt Ltd (Fomento).
“The RFT will come up only over my dead body. As an MLA, I will stand by the villagers in opposing the coal project, and will continue doing so even after I cease to be the legislator,” Cabral said at a special gram sabha of Assolda held to discuss the issue.The project envisages transportation and handling of multi-cargo, including iron ore and coal, by means of a railway terminal.
The “coal project” had turned out to be an issue during the February 2017 assembly elections, with rival forces whipping up opposition against Cabral over the proposed RFT. The BJP MLA had then steadfastly maintained that he would support the villagers in their stance against the project.
Fomento had submitted an application to Goa State Environment Impact Assessment Authority (SEIAA) in June 2014, seeking prior environmental clearance for the project. The same was granted to the company in December 2015, following which villagers appealed the National Green Tribunal (NGT) against the move. They were opposed to the project due to the high levels of coal pollution it would create, besides noise and dust pollution in the area.
The NGT, while disposing the appeal on August 3, 2016, had directed the SEIAA to hear both parties and pass an appropriate order after conducting a joint inspection.
Subsequently, the SEIAA, wrote to Fomento on November 17, that the prior environment clearance granted by for the RFT “is suspended until the project proponent submits the comprehensive EIA(environment impact assessment)/EMP (environment management plan) comprising of both the phases – (i) construction of warehouse and (ii) rail connectivity of the proposed development activity.” The authority has decided to hear both parties within one month of submission of the required documents, the letter added.
This prompted the Assolda panchayat to call for a gram sabha to explain to villagers the status of the proposed project.
At the gram sabha, while villagers demanded that the SEIAA revoke the prior environment clearance. Cabral pacified them stating that it was imperative to comply with statutory procedure, and that he would support the villagers in their fight for total revocation of the prior environment clearance and ensure the project does not come up in the village.