The nation is finally realising that the Goans are susegaad but not silent. Here is what you need to know about the uproar and Why #SaveMollem

A THREAD

#IndiaWithGoa #DropFIRsAgainstGoans @savemollemgoa
The party capital of nation, Goa, has been struggling to protect its natural diversity from the industrial onslaught for several years. Recently, 3 projects were sanctioned that threatened forests in & around Bhagwan Mahaveer Wildlife Sanctuary & Mollem National Park. #SaveMollem
The 3 projects are:

1. The 4 laning of NH4A
2. Double tracking of railway line
3. The laying of 400kV transmission line

4 laning & double tracking are two out of 30 projects that has been cleared by @moefcc during the lockdown. #SaveMollem #IndiaWithGoa #DropFIRsAgainstGoans
Goans came to know about the proposed projects from the twitter handle of the Forest Minister who proudly announced that he cleared these projects over a virtual conference. This happened when the state was under lock-down.

#SaveMollem #IndiaWithGoa #DropFIRsAgainstGoans
The clearances were discussed and granted virtually, without an opportunity for proper scrutiny, assessment, appraisal and deliberation, in a clear violation of a meaningful engagement with the procedure established by law.

#SaveMollem #IndiaWithGoa #DropFIRsAgainstGoans
According to a Quint report, the existence of over 235 bird, 219 butterfly, 70 mammal, 45 reptile, 44 fish & 27 amphibian species are in danger of being depleted due to plans of infrastructural projects that are underway.

#SaveMollem #IndiaWithGoa #DropFIRsAgainstGoans
These projects will lead to the felling of around one lakh trees in Goa and Karnataka, of which a minimum of 59,000 trees will be felled in Goa alone.

#SaveMollem #IndiaWithGoa #DropFIRsAgainstGoans
Goa Tamnar Transmission Project Ltd (GTTPL) in its statement has tried to downplay the impact of these development projects on the ecology, claiming only 1,000 trees will be felled in the wildlife sanctuary.

#SaveMollem #IndiaWithGoa #DropFIRsAgainstGoans
The government has been trying its best to defend the move in the name of public interest. Goa's environment minister Nilesh Cabral has said that the double-lining of railways will help trains pass through Western Ghats swiftly.

#SaveMollem #IndiaWithGoa #DropFIRsAgainstGoans
The government, and its concerned ministries have blatantly ignored the growing concerns regarding these projects passing through Goa’s sensitive protected regions, and the inevitable damage that will be caused by them.

#SaveMollem #IndiaWithGoa #DropFIRsAgainstGoans
They have gone as far as alleging that the protestors are “outsiders” or being misled for political reasons, while naked reality is that neither are these projects by the government of Goa, nor are they for the residents of Goa.

#SaveMollem #IndiaWithGoa #DropFIRsAgainstGoans
The projects are merely to facilitate vehicles of corporates to convert Goa into a coal transportation hub. The Mormugao Port Trust (MPT) is at the centre of the whole issue.

#SaveMollem #IndiaWithGoa #DropFIRsAgainstGoan
The MPT in Vasco is one of India’s major ports connected to Maharashtra & Karnataka through the South Central Railway & the NH17A, NH17B and NH4A highways. Its berths are primarily used for coal and iron ore transfer and handling.

#SaveMollem #IndiaWithGoa #DropFIRsAgainstGoan
According to the Ministry of Shipping/Indian Port Associations Sagarmala master plan for MPT, the current coal handling capacity is 12 mtpa (million tonnes per annum). Of this, JSW transports 7.5 mtpa and Adani transports 4.5 mtpa.

#SaveMollem #IndiaWithGoa #DropFIRsAgainstGoan
However, MPT must multiply its coal handling capacity to fulfill the coal demands in the region. Currently, only one line connects port to the hinterland, limiting coal movement capacity to 15 mtpa.

#SaveMollem #IndiaWithGoa #DropFIRsAgainstGoan
JSW coal terminal and Adani coal terminal move 19 mtpa of coal and affiliated cargo.

The railway line has to be doubled to boost that figure.

#SaveMollem #IndiaWithGoa #DropFIRsAgainstGoan
The Adani terminal at MPT (berth no.7) moves coal from MPT to other parts of India through existing South Western Railway, as well as NH17B highway. The NH17B highway connects to NH4A highway which moves through the Mollem region.

#SaveMollem #IndiaWithGoa #DropFIRsAgainstGoan
This image shows how Adani moves coal.

#SaveMollem #IndiaWithGoa #DropFIRsAgainstGoan
Electric Power Survey states wherein electricity demand projections for Goa for 2021-22 show domestic consumptions @ 26.91%, whereas commercial & industrial consumption 65.63%. Remaining 7.46% accounts for public lighting, irrigation etc.

#SaveMollem #DropFIRsAgainstGoan
This makes it evident that the three development projects will come at the cost of Goa's natural ecology and It is clear that this is not for the people of Goa, but for high tension industries.

#SaveMollem #IndiaWithGoa #DropFIRsAgainstGoan
With laying of transmission line, Goa will have double the power than its requirement. Moreover, if an EIA for transmission line was conducted, its not publicly available, which is violation of RTI under Article 19(1)(a) of Indian constitution.

#SaveMollem #DropFIRsAgainstGoan
A current MSc. student at Carmel College, Nuvem said, “The approvals have been hastily given, taking advantage of the lockdown. Mollem is part of the Western Ghats, a global biodiversity hotspot and a lifeline for peninsular India.

#SaveMollem #IndiaWithGoa #DropFIRsAgainstGoan
Generations of Goans have viewed these parks as their national pride. These are our commons. Not just for our present generation but also for future generations to come. We have to protect them.”

#SaveMollem #IndiaWithGoa #DropFIRsAgainstGoan
Here’s more reading, written by @veeramahuli https://thewire.in/environment/india-needs-to-notice-how-3-development-projects-could-alter-goas-forests
India Needs to Notice How 3 Development Projects Could Alter Goa's Forests Forever

As many as 30 projects which threaten India's ecological fibre were discussed and cleared virtually, without an opportunity for proper scrutiny, assessment, appraisal and deliberation.

https://thewire.in/environment/india-needs-to-notice-how-3-development-projects-could-alter-goas-forests
https://science.thewire.in/environment/bhagwan-mahavir-wildlife-sanctuary-goa-national-wildlife-board/
Goa Sanctuary in Danger After Two Wildlife Boards Skip Science for 'Development' - The Wire Science

When wildlife habitats are not properly implemented, the legal provisions designed to protect them remain confined to the paper they are written on.

https://science.thewire.in/environment/bhagwan-mahavir-wildlife-sanctuary-goa-national-wildlife-board/
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