PANAJI
A collective of Panaji residents, 'Citizens of Panaji', on Wednesday strongly opposed the State government's move to hand over the newly constructed ship-shaped Captain of Ports terminal building to a private operator and warned of legal action if the tender is not withdrawn within three days.
A delegation comprising residents, stakeholders and public representatives met the Captain of Ports in Panaji and submitted a memorandum demanding immediate cancellation of the tender floated for the operation and management of the facility.
CCP councillor Jack Sukhija, AAP Goa State president Valmiki Naik and several prominent residents of Panaji, including writer-activist Chryselle D'Silva Dias among others were part of the delegation. The group objected to the proposal to operate the new riverfront terminal and manage jetties along the Mandovi River through a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model. Jack Sukhija said, the move is part of the government's clandestine policy to privatise the entire Mandovi waterfront and hand it over to the casinos. According to the tender, the project envisages a 30-year concession agreement for the operation, maintenance and commercial exploitation of the terminal building and associated jetty infrastructure.
Sukhija is argued that the move amounts to handing over a major public asset, built entirely with taxpayers' money, to private interests. The delegation noted that the terminal project was constructed at a cost of Rs 48.87 crore from public funds, while the tender is valued at only Rs 27.04 crore.
"The facility was conceived and built as a public asset. Its management should remain in public hands. The government is also on record before the National Green Tribunal that it will not be privatised," Sukhija said.
The citizens' group also expressed concern over what it described as the gradual privatisation of Panaji's riverfront and warned that commercial control of strategic waterfront infrastructure could adversely impact public access.
Several members questioned the rationale behind transferring operational control of a newly built government facility soon after its completion.
They demanded that the government place all details of the proposal in the public domain and hold consultations with local stakeholders before taking any further steps.
The group also alleged that the proposed arrangement could directly benefit offshore casino operators, a claim that has intensified public concern surrounding the tender.
Issuing a three-day ultimatum, the group warned that it would approach the High Court through a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) if the government failed to withdraw the tender.
The row is expected to trigger a wider debate over the future management of public infrastructure and the use of PPP models for key assets along Goa's capital city's riverfront.
