Summary:
"With his statement on tourism moving to Maharashtra, Union minister Nitin Gadkari has exposed the larger plan to make Goa a coal hub for the benefit of Maharashtra tourism," GAC member Shrayragi Israni said. "The organization also reiterated that the coal which is being brought into the state through MPT is not for generating power but instead for private steel players. Panaji: Alleging that the state and the central governments are planning to increase the coal handling capacity at the Mormugao Port Trust (MPT) berths from 12 million tonnes to 51 million tonnes, leaders of the Goa Against Coal (GAC) movement threatened to launch an agitation against such moves.Speaking to reporters, GAC convenor Custodio D'Souza said, "The double tracking of the Vasco-Londa rail tracks and the widening/construction of NH 17-A and B, NH 4-A and B and NH 17 are being carried out for transporting coal..