log on to thegoan.net @thegoaneveryday SATURDAY JANUARY 21, 2023 Aussie Goan MP shines in Kunbi saree at Pravasi Bharatiya Divas Facebook.com/thegoaneveryday The Goan (Playstore) 15 pages PRICE ` 8 PANAJI MARGAO GOA VOLUME VIII, NO.214 7 GOA 20 candidates clear the JSO recruitment process 5 Instagram.com/thegoaneveryday RNI: GOAENG/2015/65729 INFO Get rid of blackheads permanently with these face masks 11 SPORTS India weighs pace options against New Zealand in second ODI 15 Anti-coal activists gear up, plan movement TO UNDERTAKE TOUR ACROSS THE STATE TO EXPOSE ‘CONSPIRACY’; EXPLORE OPTIONS TO CHALLENGE EC THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI A group of activists are planning a protracted movement against the decision of the Ministry of Environment Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) to accord Environmental Clearance to South West Port Ltd (SWPL) for its proposed terminal capacity enhancement at the two berths at Mormugao Port. According to sources, a few key members who were involved in the agitation against double tracking and coal transportation took part in a meeting on Friday night. “The members discussed the various options of taking the battle against the EC granted to the three projects at MPA. They alleged that the “double engine sarkar” was out to destroy the very essence of Goa. Our proposed movement will begin from Vasco, since it is the epicentre of coal cargo,” said the source. “They were unanimously in their assessment that the timing of approval for the DPR for diverting river Mhadei and granting EC clearance was not a coincidence, but timed to A group of anti-coal activists during a meeting on Friday night. meet the increasing demand of industries for coal and water for steel plants in North Karnataka. The activists bemoaned the pro-crony capitalist action of the BJP government.” When contacted, the members remained tight-lipped but promised to announce their plans shortly. “We have decided to undertake an extensive tour across the State to expose the conspiracy behind the granting of the EC. We have also decided to explore various options to challenge the EC, including legal route,” said a member, who was present at the meeting. Meanwhile, public anger continued to simmer over the union environment ministry’s decision to grant Environment Clearance to the South West Port Ltd (SWPL) to enhance the capacity to handle coal at Berths 5A and 6A at Mormugao Port Authority. Many were upset that despite vociferous objections to handling of coal cargo in the Mormugao Port, the Ministry of Environment Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) has accorded EC to SWPL for its proposed terminal capacity enhancement at the two berths at Mormugao Port. “All this while, the government was saying that the double tracking is not for increased coal handling. But now the truth is come out. Now the MoEFCC has confirmed the double tracking is not only to handle coal but to more the double the coal handling and transportation,” claimed a social activist Anthony D’Silva. Chicalim Biodiversity Management Committee Chair- man Rui Costa Araujo feared that any enhancement in coal cargo would affect tourism and Goa would be considered as a highly polluted State. He also said such vast handling of coal is dangerous for us and moreover, most of the cargo may not be for Goa. O N PAG E 2 Public anger continues to simmer over EC Will compel industries to install world-class anti-pollution measures: Mauvin My stand on coal pollution unchanged: Amonkar