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PARSEKAR TREADS CAUTIOUSLY
* Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar says that his government will not rush with the project
* Will take a call only after assessing various aspects, including feedback from the public, he says
* Will not mind if the decision on the Betul minor port is taken post 2017 Assembly election
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Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar is treading a cautious path and is in no hurry to give a nod for Union Surface Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari’s ambitious project of setting up a minor port at Betul, which will function as a satellite port for the Mormugao Port Trust.
While the process of setting up the minor port at Betul will kick start only after a Cabinet nod, the proposal has so far not found a mention in the meetings of the Cabinet held till date. That’s not all.
The Chief Minister made it very clear to 'The Goan' on Thursday that his government will not rush with the project, but will take a call only after assessing various aspects, including feedback from the public.
Speaking to The Goan on the sidelines of his visit to RumdamolÂDavorlim village to wish Haj Committee Chairman Sheikh Jina on the occasion Eid ul Fitr, the Chief Minister has made it clear that the government will not rush with any decision on Gadkari’s plan in haste. The Chief Minister even went on to say that he would not mind if the decision on the Betul minor port is taken by the government post 2017 Assembly election. “Let me make it clear that my government will not take any decision in a hurry.
We have not taken any decision. The proposal is open for public discussion and reaction. Only after assimilation and consolidation of the public reaction, the government will think over taking a decision”, Parsekar said.
“On that day when Nitin Gadkari wanted me that I should declare my consent for the port, I had said no. I told them that is not possible since we are a small state with limited land and that our
people are sensitive. I do understand that the project may boost the economy or help create jobs.
But in spite of that, I have decided to keep the topic open for discussion. Let the people argue over the project. But, I feel there’s no discussion yet on the project. Let the gram sabhas discuss and let there be a public debate”, the Chief Minister told The Goan when asked for the government’s stand on the Betul port when opposition is brewing up against the project from all quarters.
“The Betul port may have the potential of accelerating economic development or creating employment opportunities, but since Goa has scarce land resources, my government will have to take into account all aspects before giving any nod for the project. Right now, the project is in the public domain. Let there is discussions amongst the public on the proposal”, he said.
When his attention was drawn to the fact that the project has evoked opposition from the Betul Panchayat gram sabha as well as objections from other stake holders, the Chief Minister said “let there be discussions on the proposal. As I have said, my government will not act in haste”.
Asked whether it would be prudent for the new government to take a call on the proposal post 2017 Assembly election, Parsekar shot back “I have absolutely no problem. The fact remains that my government is not in a hurry to approve the project”.
The Chief Minister’s comments assumes significance and comes against the backdrop of the fact that the Betul minor port project has so far not figured before his Cabinet for a nod. A month has passed since the Union Minister for Shipping had unveiled his ambitious plan, but it has not moved forward for want of a cabinet nod.
Unveiling his plan, Gadkari had said the new port at Betul will handle bauxite up to 50 tones a year and iron ore of 10 lakh tons annually. The port will either feature an offshore terminal by conveyor with a draught of 17.5 metres, or near shore terminals through dredging to maintain a draught of 17.5 metres.
The Union Minister said the project would require around 150Â200 acres of land, of which 75 acres is already in the possession of the State government.
The Betul minor port project, however, has come in for strong opposition, not only from the Betul Panchayat gram sabha and local MLA Babu Kavlekar, but from the stake holders as well.
The traditional fishermen from Betul as well as the mechanized boat owners operating from Betul and Cutbona fishing jetties have expressed their strong reservations on the port proposal. And, so had the tourism stakeholders, including hoteliers, shack owners and tourist taxi operators in the tourist village of CavelossimÂMobor “ the hub of starred tourism ÂÂ who had raised concerns over a port coming up right in its backyard.
