the goan I network
PANAJI
Congress Legislative Party (CLP) led by Leader of Opposition Chandrakant "Babu" Kavalekar has written to Union Minister for Shipping, Transport and Highways opposing the nationalization of six rivers of Goa and requesting that an amendment be moved in the upcoming winter session of Parliament to delete these rivers from the list of 11 rivers in the National Waterways Act (NWA), 2016.
Speaking at his chamber at the Goa Legislative Assembly complex in Porvorim on Monday, LoO Kavalekar stated, "We have communicated to Union Minister Gadkari the decision taken by CLP previously to fight for deletion of six Goan rivers from the NWA. We have urged him to take people's sentiments into consideration."
Following its meeting on Monday, it was informed that the CLP will seek 30 minute-long discussion on the issue of river nationalization at the upcoming four-day session of Goa legislature scheduled to commence on December 13.
CLP also demanded a public hearing on the issue of river nationalization. In the letter dated November 24, LoO Kavalekar has sought to draw Gadkari's attention to the existence of strong opposition to the move particularly because Goa is a small state with limited land resources and also to the effect it stands to bear on the livelihood of fishermen.
"Substantial land on both sides of the rivers will be controlled by the Union Government however much you may deny this aspect and try to convince the people of Goa that it is the state which is going to control the rivers and appurtenant land," the letter reads.
Congress also highlighted the Private Member's Bill moved by Goa's former RS member and now president of Goa Congress Shantaram Naik seeking deletion of the six rivers from the schedule attached to the NWA, 2016.
Naik's Private Member's Bill pointed out that the legal status of the land on both sides of the banks of the six rivers is still not known. Also, the circumstances under which the state government gave approval to the bill are not known to Goans.
Naik stated, "Whether a social impact assessment has been made, whether an environment impact assessment has been made and whether the state government has a plan to resolve the issues arising out of the impact on fishermen's livelihood has not been made transparent."
He also demanded to know the basis for CM Manohar Parrikar's claim that the MoU will allow the state government to retain powers on the rivers and river beds.
"An MoU can't amend an Act of Parliament. The state government should explain the expanse of the area where it will retain power and exercise control following the MoU before it is signed,' Naik challenged.
The CLP meeting was attended by Poriem MLA Pratapsing Rane, Curtorim MLA Aleixo Lourenco, Mandrem MLA Dayanand Sopte, Tivim MLA Nilkanth Halarnkar, Nuvem MLA Wilfred D'Sa and Cuncolim MLA Clafasio Dias.
PANAJI
Congress Legislative Party (CLP) led by Leader of Opposition Chandrakant "Babu" Kavalekar has written to Union Minister for Shipping, Transport and Highways opposing the nationalization of six rivers of Goa and requesting that an amendment be moved in the upcoming winter session of Parliament to delete these rivers from the list of 11 rivers in the National Waterways Act (NWA), 2016.
Speaking at his chamber at the Goa Legislative Assembly complex in Porvorim on Monday, LoO Kavalekar stated, "We have communicated to Union Minister Gadkari the decision taken by CLP previously to fight for deletion of six Goan rivers from the NWA. We have urged him to take people's sentiments into consideration."
Following its meeting on Monday, it was informed that the CLP will seek 30 minute-long discussion on the issue of river nationalization at the upcoming four-day session of Goa legislature scheduled to commence on December 13.
CLP also demanded a public hearing on the issue of river nationalization. In the letter dated November 24, LoO Kavalekar has sought to draw Gadkari's attention to the existence of strong opposition to the move particularly because Goa is a small state with limited land resources and also to the effect it stands to bear on the livelihood of fishermen.
"Substantial land on both sides of the rivers will be controlled by the Union Government however much you may deny this aspect and try to convince the people of Goa that it is the state which is going to control the rivers and appurtenant land," the letter reads.
Congress also highlighted the Private Member's Bill moved by Goa's former RS member and now president of Goa Congress Shantaram Naik seeking deletion of the six rivers from the schedule attached to the NWA, 2016.
Naik's Private Member's Bill pointed out that the legal status of the land on both sides of the banks of the six rivers is still not known. Also, the circumstances under which the state government gave approval to the bill are not known to Goans.
Naik stated, "Whether a social impact assessment has been made, whether an environment impact assessment has been made and whether the state government has a plan to resolve the issues arising out of the impact on fishermen's livelihood has not been made transparent."
He also demanded to know the basis for CM Manohar Parrikar's claim that the MoU will allow the state government to retain powers on the rivers and river beds.
"An MoU can't amend an Act of Parliament. The state government should explain the expanse of the area where it will retain power and exercise control following the MoU before it is signed,' Naik challenged.
The CLP meeting was attended by Poriem MLA Pratapsing Rane, Curtorim MLA Aleixo Lourenco, Mandrem MLA Dayanand Sopte, Tivim MLA Nilkanth Halarnkar, Nuvem MLA Wilfred D'Sa and Cuncolim MLA Clafasio Dias.
