Team Goemkarponn
PANAJI: The Diocesan Commission for Ecology, Archdiocese of Goa and Daman, has renewed its opposition to the South Western Railway (SWR) double-tracking project between Hospet and Vasco da Gama, citing the Supreme Court’s landmark ruling against it and continued public protests in Goa.
Convenor Rev. Dr. Bolmax Pereira said the project remains ecologically destructive, socially unjust and strongly opposed by Goans.
The Commission pointed to the Supreme Court’s order of May 9, 2022, which set aside wildlife clearance for the project through the Bhagwan Mahaveer Wildlife Sanctuary and Mollem National Park.
The ruling followed a report by the Central Empowered Committee (CEC), which termed the project “inefficient, unjustified and potentially destructive,” warning of irreparable harm to the Western Ghats ecosystem.
The Commission further noted that the project has triggered widespread public opposition, with citizens, environmental groups and civil society repeatedly taking to the streets in protest.
Concerns include risks to public health from coal dust pollution linked to increased coal transportation, threats to heritage homes and religious structures along the route, and disputes over forcible land acquisition.
Rev. Pereira said the government’s persistence in pursuing the project despite judicial intervention and people’s resistance amounted to “a disregard for the rule of law and the democratic will of the people.”
He called on authorities to respect the court’s verdict and instead explore development models that are socially equitable and ecologically sustainable.
