Team Goemkarponn
MARGAO: South Goa MP Captain Viriato Fernandes has stated that he is adamantly opposed to the State and Central governments’ actions of forcibly acquiring land and pursuing projects that benefit corporate interests at the expense of the Goan people and environment, in light of the recent historic ruling by the Supreme Court.
He claimed that the Apex Court’s ruling had reiterated the rule that not all private property could be taken and reclassified as “material resources of the community” unless it served a legitimate public good that was focused on the community.
“The projects in question—the construction of the route leading to the Borim bridge through environmentally sensitive Khazan areas and the double tracking of the Western Railway from Tinaighat to Vasco—are representative of a troubling trend. The main goal of these projects, which are marketed as infrastructure development, is to make it easier for corporations to transport coal. They upend Goan communities, endanger our ecosystem, and jeopardize the livelihoods of innumerable inhabitants who rely on these areas,” he stated.
According to the MP, the Supreme Court’s decision makes it abundantly evident that the government cannot repurpose communal resources or purchase private property in order to accommodate corporate interests.
Any such action must adhere to the stringent requirements of advancing the fundamental welfare of the community and serving a legitimate public interest. The land and natural resources of Goa are essential to our future, our health, and our cultural legacy.
“These proposals fall short of the Supreme Court’s standards and instead jeopardize the fundamental values of justice, openness, and public benefit that our Constitution protects,” he continued.
Viriato has urged the Goa government and central authorities to put a stop to these projects and reevaluate their plans so that they are in line with the welfare of the Goan community, environmental sustainability, and genuine public interest.
