THEGOAN NETWORK
MARGAO: When Power Minister NileshCabral hops from one village to another along Salcete’s coastal belt inBenaulim constituency, his avowed objective will be to understand the powerproblems and fix the issues.
But, with a storm brewing in the coastalbelt and the riverine villages over the marking of the river Sal as “Portlimits” on the Coastal Zone Management Plan (CZMP), the Power Minister, whoalso holds the Ministry of Environment may be faced with a volley of questionson the CRZ plan.
Whether Cabral prefers to field thequestions pertaining to environment when the visit is strictly connected with powerwill be known today, but Sarpanchas as well as panchayat members may certainlyprefer to raise queries pertaining to the CZMP plan seeking clarity not only onRiver Sal, but other issues as well.
A sarpanch pointed out thatclarification by the Environment Minister on what constitute “Port Limits” inrespect of River Sal will clear the air of confusion and uncertainty on thematter.
“We have no idea what constitutes PortLimits and whether it is linked to the MPT or the Captain of Ports. These andother questions assume significance against the backdrop of the Central PortsBill as well as the nationalization of rivers,” the sarpanch remarked.
Another Sarpanch pointed out that sincethe government has not cleared the air on the Port Limits of River Sal, theEnvironment Minister should clarify the position of the river vis-Ã -vis theMPT, even though Cabral’s visit is purely related to the power situation inBenaulim Constituency.
“The river Sal passes through thevillages of Seraulim, Benaulim, Varca, Carmona, Orlim and Cavelossim inBenaulim constituency. It is in the fitness of things that the EnvironmentMinister should clarify on the matter during his visit to the constituency,”the Sarpanch added.
Some of the villages on the banks of theriver Sal, including Chinchinim have resolved to request the government toremove the words “Port limits” from the CZMP, while the Sarpanch of Carmona,Allwyn Jorge has mulled convening of a special meeting to discuss the matterand request the government to come clear.
