MARGAO
Will the Captain of Ports explain to the villagers of as many as 10 panchayats whether his office had received any NOC from the local bodies before embarking on the controversial project to desilt the river Sal?
This question has assumed significance and comes against the backdrop of the deadlock over the river Sal desilting, as the dredger lies anchored in the river at Chinchinim village and the local panchayat body refusing to give its nod for the project.
A glance at a letter written by the Captain of Ports, Capt James Braganza, to as many as 10 village panchayats clearly showed that the captain had requested these local bodies to issue NOC for the desilting of the river in Phase II from the Telaulim-Varca new bridge towards downstream up to the mouth of river Sal, covering a distance of 18 kms.
The letter dated March 11, 2019, was written to the village panchayats of Varca, Cavelossim, Orlim, Dramapur-Sirlim, Velim, Telaulim, Assolna, Betul, Ambelim and Chinchinim seeking NOC from these bodies for the desilting work.
In the letter, the CoP stated that the river will be desilted 12-meter wide and three-meter deep so as to facilitate free movement of passenger boats.
It was further stated in the letter that the department, as is mandatory, will conduct an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) study for the area through the National Institute of Oceanography, Dona Paula.
Questions are being raised by the representatives of the local panchayat bodies whether the Captain of Ports has obtained the NOCs from the panchayat bodies before deploying the dredger in the river.
Deputy Sarpanch of Chinchinim village panchayat, Valentino Barretto, told The Goan that the Chinchinim panchayat had never issued any NOC to the Captain of Ports to start the dredging work. “As per my information, most of the panchayat bodies, who were approached by the Captain of Ports, have not issued any such NOC for the desilting work,” Valentino said.
He wondered why the Captain of Ports is bulldozing its way with the project without the NOC from the panchayats and demanded to know whether the captain is hell-bent in executing the project by using force.
Sources said with the Chinchinim village panchayat opposing any dredging of the river without taking the villagers into confidence, the contractor, Vaibhavi Dredging, approached the local body members for discussions on Saturday.
“The contractor told us that the Captain of Ports is pressurizing him to execute the job as per the work order. But the panchayat members have made it very clear to the contractor that any activity forcefully executed may result in a massive law and order problem,” Valentino said.
He said the panchayat members have suggested to the contractor that a high-level meeting with the Captain of Ports, the District Collector, South, representatives of the panchayat bodies, stakeholders and the villagers should be convened to address all issues raised by the people before taking any decision on the river Sal desilting work.
