Parallel to the dissent over the now scrapped proposal for sweeping changes in building and development rules which were seen as promoting big ticket development like golf courses, film cities et al, Goa was witnessing another movement in its villages to protest yet another policy initiative of the State government -- the jetty policy. At least half a dozen panchayats have formally passed resolutions opposing the policy. The Goan delves into the issue and finds that the complete by-passing of panchayats and the suspicion that it is meant to build infrastructure primarily to facilitate transportation of coal with tourism as mere guise, is at the core of the widespread angst against the policy
Earlier this week, the tourism department which is piloting the proposal to formulate a 'jetty policy' for Goa issued a clarification to the effect that it is not aimed at facilitating movement of coal but to promote tourism and passenger vessel movement.
While there is little to show whether the clarification does clarify anything, its tone clearly betrays the fact that there is deep suspicion in the collective psyche of rural Goa who distrust the government's claim that the jetties and related infrastructure that the policy proposes is to promote tourism and believe it is meant to facilitate the transportation of coal handled at the Mormugao port by the Adanis and Jindals.
Around a month ago, the Goa tourism department issued a public notice making known its intention to formulate a jetty policy for the State and simultaneously published a draft, seeking suggestions and objections to it.
"In order to harness full potential of the Goan waters for tourism purposes, the state government desires to implement a jetty policy for regulating the introduction and operation of any passenger cruise vessel or operators using any jetty that is existing or upcoming jetties proposed by any government department in Goa to be utilised for tourism purpose,” the public notice issued by Tourism Director Nikhil Desai in mid-September had said.
Panchayats opposed
In less than a week, at least two major village panchayats -- Loutolim and Calangute -- witnessed vociferous opposition to the policy. At gram sabhas, residents of these two villages voiced apprehension that the government was proposing the policy only to facilitate building of jetties to aid the transportation of coal imported through the Mormugao port.
Another objection to the policy voiced at the gram sabhas was the policy's complete disregard to the authority of the panchayats, concentrating power on all matters to a 'Jetty Management Committee' comprising bureaucrats.
Since then, at least another half-a-dozen more panchayats including Aldona, Shiroda, Borim, Dhurbat among others, have joined the ranks of the villages who have formally passed resolutions rejecting the policy.
Jetty Management Committee
The draft policy concentrates all powers with a Jetty Management Committee (JMC) related to statutory licencing, regulation and enforcement.
According to the draft policy, the JMC has already been constituted by a government order and is headed by the Principal Secretary (Tourism) and has the following officials as members: a) Director Tourism, Managing Director, Goa Tourism Development Corporation Limited (GTDC), Captain of Ports, One member nominated by GTDC Board, two representatives of Goa Boat Cruises Association, Superintendent of Police ( Coastal Police) and a member from the River Navigation Department (RND).
The JMC shall not be the owner of any jetty in Goa and the authority to licence jetties continues to vest with Captain of Ports (CoP), it states, adding that the scope and mandate of the policy and JMC shall extend to all jetties used for tourism purposes in Goa.
The JMC will be responsible for evolving a methodology and establishing procedures to identify carrying capacities of any river thereby regulating the number of vessels, including their capacities, that may be allowed to operate from that location.
No permission for construction of new passenger cruise vessel shall be accorded by Captain of Ports until a NOC has been issued by the JMC, says the draft policy adding that it will also recommend tourism-centric upgradation of any existing jetty in Goa.
The JMC will advise and recommend to the State government on the need to construct additional jetties under Central or State government schemes.
Determining carrying capacity of river, undertaking critical review and recommendations for carrying capacity of rivers, freezing the introduction of new vessels based on carrying capacity of any Goan rivers are some other tasks the JMC will be responsible for.
Minimum services at jetty
Provision of ticket counters using a single-window ticketing system with online tax deduction manned by the State-owned GEL is a must at every jetty used for tourism purposes, the policy draft states.
Jetties will also have to provide facilities for frisking passengers and luggage, access control system and surveillance systems, berthing facility for vessels, a well designated waiting and sitting areas for users of a capacity equivalent to the carrying capacity of vessels using the jetty and separate waiting areas for VIPs and guests for private parties and boat charters.
Food and beverage services at the jetties for users, availability of clean drinking water free of cost, clean and well-maintained toilets, well equipped first-aid room are some of the minimum facilities the draft policy mandates jetties to provide.
Terminal buildings
The policy provides for construction of terminal buildings if the scale of operations and footfalls on any jetty warrant.
"The Jetty owner may choose to design and construct a terminal building, either by themselves or through a competent third party, which conforms to the extant Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) norms and building byelaws of State government and as approved by the JMC," one provision of the policy states.
The terminal building can be constructed using any building material that is permitted under the CRZ norms, while considering the load factor on the
Jetty, the provision states, adding that an operator may be engaged for maintenance.
Role of Captain of Ports (COP)
The CoP will act as a statutory authority for registration of any vessel in Goa including all types and purposes, barges, yachts, container ships, transport vessels, etc.
The CoP will also be responsible for awarding the mooring licence to various vessel operators for plying in Goan waters for tourism and leisure activities following the necessary Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).
In addition, the CoP will be responsible for renewal of mooring licence of various registered vessels, co-ordinate with the JMC to decide on temporary freezing
of any mooring licences, enlist safety guidelines for all Jetties, tracking of all vessels with suitable tracking technologies and to facilitate smooth and efficient operations in the waters.
Voices of Opposition
Apart from the basic apprehension that the government secretly intends to promote water-bone transportation of coal and using tourism as an alibi to justify the jetty policy, another reason why people in Goa's villages are raising objections is the disregard to local panchayats and populations who are actual stakeholders of the rivers and khazans where the jetty facilities will be built.
Local communities own the rivers and khazans. Therefore, policies and proposals must come from them, say many activists who are lending their voices to chorus opposing the Jetty Policy.
