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Govt to address concerns on Xelvona pollution BY HERALD REPORTER PANJIM, FEB 14 - Allaying fears expressed by Curchorem MLA Ramrao Dessai (BJP), the Chief Minister Pratapsing Rane said that the Government would address the concerns regarding pollution and ruining of agricultural land in Xelvona before starting work on the project of rail terminal for ore. The Chief Minister was replying to a calling attention matter raised by Dessai who in his notice said that there is fear and apprehension in the minds of the Xelvona residents that the proposed Xelvona River siding rail terminal would destroy their agricultural land and trees. He strongly urged the Government to cancel the project and withdraw the land acquisition process to which urgency clause has been applied. In his reply, the Chief Minister said that approximately 100 lakh metric tonnes of iron ore is annually transported from Karnataka to Goa for exports of which 35 lakh MT is transported through Railways and unloaded at Curchorem yard. Sprinklers have also not solved the dust pollution in the area. Iron ore of non-Goan origin being very dry and fine, is the main cause of dust pollution at Cuchorem Railway Yard, he said adding that as the situation is likely to become unmanageable in the near future, it is essential to have a separate state-of the-art mechanized railway yard and one stack yard for transport and handling of non-Goan mineral ore. It will have facilities such as enclosed conveyor belts, bottom unloading railway wagons, enclosed ore stacking yard and adjoining barge loading jetty complex. Three sites were considered from which Xelvona was found most ideal by the South Central Railway authorities. The other two sites were Neura and Dukhorkhond. The commissioning of the project would bring down the pollution level drastically, the Chief Minister said informing the House that the Government has invoked urgency clause for early completion of the project. Dessai however strongly demanded that the project should be shelved. -- Peace be with you! Gabe Menezes. London, England