National
You will die of pollution, if you fall in Goan river, Parrikar tells activist
Panaji, Dec 11 (IANS) Some of Goa’s rivers are so polluted, that if someone is thrown into one, he or she would die of pollution, Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar on Monday told an activist opposing inclusion of Goa’s major rivers in the Inland Waterways Authority of India’s list.
Parrikar was speaking at a heated interaction with activists and state’s elected representatives, which also saw ‘black mask’ protests by activists opposing increased coal transportation and ‘nationalisation’ of the state’s rivers and their inclusion in the Authority’s list.
After the Chief Minister was told by an activist that the interaction did not serve any purpose, because the Goa government in 2015 had already agreed to the six rivers being included in the Authority’s list and therefore it amounted to tying “a stone around our neck and already throwing us in the rivers”, Parrikar responded with a sharp riposte.
“There is no need to tie a stone around your neck and throw you in the river. You will die even if you fall in the river. If you fall in the Sal river you will die quickly. There is so much pollution,” Parrikar said.
The state government is in the final stages of entering into a memorandum of understanding with the Mormugao Port Trust, Inland Waterways Authority of India and Captain of Ports (Goa government) which will make way for nationalisation of Chapora, Sal, Mapusa, Pomburpa, Mandovi and Zuari rivers in Goa.
The move has seen sustained opposition from state’s fishing communities, opposition politicians as well as activists, who are accusing the state government of nationalising the state’s rivers in order to facilitate increased transporation of coal for three major coal importing companies, who operate from the Mormugao Port Trust, the only major port facility in the state.
During the interaction, Parrikar however said, that only the Parliament of India had the power to revert the decision on inclusion of Goa’s rivers in the Authority’s list and not the state assembly.
“The act has already come in force in 2016… Power is with the Parliament. Goa Assembly does not have the power to declare national waterways. It is with the central government, according to the Constitution,” he said, adding that those opposing the inclusion of the six rivers in the list can lobby with Members of Parliament.
The Chief Minister also said, that while the central government, as per the MoU will manage river navigation, majority of the powers will remain vested with state authorities.
Parrikar also said that opposition to inclusion of rivers with the Authority’s list had not surfaced in other Indian states. A total of 111 rivers have been included in the Inland Waterways Authority of India list.
He said that attempts were being made to create confusion by vested interests, who were trying to use the phrase ‘nationalisation of rivers’, to muddy the waters.
“Nationalisation is a word being used on purpose by some people to create confusion,” Parrikar said.
–IANS
maya/umer/rn
Lucknow: Vishal Singh, a renowned social worker from Lucknow, also known as Foodman, has once again made India proud. He was honored by the Happy Hands Gloves Cooperative Limited Company in Korathai, Thailand, for his work with the Hunger Free World Mission.
The Hunger Free World Mission’s meeting was held in Korathai, Thailand, under Vishal Singh’s leadership. Representatives from several countries, including Mr. Raja Dwivedi (Managing Director of Happy Hands Gloves Limited), Thailand Coordinator Mr. Raja Mishra, and member Mr. Varun Singh, attended the event.
Under Vishal Singh’s leadership, the attendees took a pledge to work together toward creating a hunger-free world.
Speaking on the occasion, Vishal Singh explained that the main goal of the Hunger Free World Mission is social participation. He said the mission is not just about feeding people but also about meeting other basic needs of those who are struggling. The mission focuses on helping families of terminally ill patients in hospitals by providing food and shelter. It also works to fulfill essential needs like education, jobs, and care for the elderly.
For the last 16 years, the Vijay Sri Foundation has been providing free services, benefiting thousands of people. Vishal Singh highlighted that the mission aims to gain global recognition like other organizations such as WHO, WWF, and Red Cross, which work for social causes.
During this meeting, Vishal Singh was appointed as the Chairman of the Hunger Free World Mission by representatives from various countries. They also discussed holding regular meetings in different countries to push the mission forward.
Business tycoon Dr. Abhishek Verma has also supported this humanitarian mission, vowing to promote the idea of “Seva Parmo Dharma” (Service is the highest duty) worldwide. Vishal Singh praised him, stating that people like Dr .Abhishek Verma inspire others to work for the betterment of society.
Recently, Romania’s Ambassador, Mr . Daniela Sezonov Ţane, invited Vishal Singh to the Romanian Embassy in Delhi, where they discussed the mission in detail. Impressed by his humanitarian work, she honored Vishal Singh and invited him to Romania to take the mission forward .
Food man Vishal Singh has been serving the people of India for the past 16 years. Through the Vijay Sri Foundation, he provides free meals to cancer patients & their families ,shelter, and education for women & children along with running free old-age homes in Lucknow.
In addition to his humanitarian work, Vishal Singh also addresses issues like crime and corruption through his role as Chairman of Seva Path Media and Managing Director of Vijay Sri Foundation.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Vishal Singh and his team worked tirelessly to provide food and help to the needy, including starving children, elderly citizens, and pregnant women. Despite contracting the virus himself, he continued to assist others after his recovery. He even created a life-saving oxygen regulator using household items, which was praised by doctors both in India and abroad.
In his address at the meeting, Vishal Singh spoke about his mission to create a hunger-free world. He pointed out that India’s large population, along with issues like unemployment and poverty, has caused the country to fall on the Hunger Index. He urged people to contribute just one handful of grains daily to help create a hunger-free world.
He concluded by saying that through social participation, we can empower the people around us, meet their basic needs, and work together to build a stronger, more prosperous, and developed society.
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