Goemkarponn Desk
PORVORIM: Chief Minister Dr. Pramod Sawant today said that the state government will file its opinion on the recommendations of the Central Empowered Committee(CEC) before the Supreme Court (SC) which is hearing the petition against three controversial linear projects passing through the Western Ghats.
The Chief Minister Dr. Pramod Sawant today informed the House that the Supreme Court-appointed CEC has approved the national highway expansion project while it has recommended against the double-tracking of a south western railway line and Tamnar power project.
“We will submit our say against the recommendation before the Supreme Court, who is hearing the matter. The matter is pending before the Court and no decision has been taken so far,” Sawant said responding to a volume of questions from the opposition who sought to know the government’s stand on the CEC recommendation.
Independent MLA Rohan Khaunte and GFP MLA Vijai Sardesai cornered the government over the linear projects, who informed the House that the CEC has recommended that the permissions granted for the projects should be revoked.
Responding to the same, Sawant said that the recommendations are still before the Supreme Court and no decision has been taken.
He also said that no land is acquired in the protected areas and whatever is acquired for the double-tracking is government land and from those who have willingly agreed to give.
The Opposition demanded that a half an hour discussion be provided on the issue since its very contentious and several villages, citizens and environmental experts are up in arms against the three projects. However, the Speaker denied the same.
CM Sawant also informed that the CEC has allowed national highway expansion on the existing alignment but objected to the other two projects of railway double-tracking and Tamnar 400 KV power line through the dense forest.
