the goan I network
PANAJI
Promoters of the marina Anytime Harbour of Yachts (AHOY) Pvt Ltd being proposed on the northern bank of the Zuari river on Monday said Nauxim pipped nine other locations and was most favoured by the central Ministry of Shipping and Transport owing to several factors including the needs of the local people.
Addressing a press conference at a starred hotel in the city, here, Arun Dua, the director of AHOY, and Col Milind Prabhu, the marina project director, said that a survey of Goa was conducted by the Ministry of Shipping and Transport which zeroed in on Nauxim, before the tendering process for the marina had started.
“10 locations were chosen on record. One of the requirements of the Ministry of Environment was that a location with the least number of bad effects and most number of good effects be chosen. Each of the other locations had some problem or the other. Nauxim was the only location which had zero negative effects and maximum positive effects,” said Dua.
Technical experts in various fields like meteorology, biodiversity, and economy had favoured Nauxim, he added, and stressed that the need of the local people is more here.
However, when asked which local bodies had been taken on board, Dua said that till now, no local bodies had been involved.
“We’re involving the local bodies now. At that time local bodies were not involved as Goa was only being surveyed. When you survey a place for selection, you don’t start asking everybody. The place is chosen based on a checklist of priorities for the project,” he said.
The marina promoters also added that the fishing families who will be affected by the proposed marina (they put the number at 12-15), had not yet been consulted. “I have invited them to come and talk, I have invited the Panchayat, but they don’t want to read my letter. I’ve invited the MLA and everyone concerned,” Dua said.
The promoters also claimed that they would not touch the houses of any of the fishing families for the approximately Rs 230 crore project. “We won’t be using any land, the marina will be on water,” he said.
AHOY Pvt Ltd has also claimed that “fishing cannot be done at Nauxim” as “the water is very shallow and area very rocky.” “Ramponns cannot be put there, as there are rocks. In fact, fish will increase because of the marina. They will get better catch,” the director of AHOY said.
Another factor that fishermen will have to be alert to is the fact that once the marina comes up, whatever fish is caught will be taken by those who control the marina. The promoters claimed that this would be beneficial for the fishers as “they will not have to worry about price fluctuations.”
The promoters said they do not have the number of how many yachts are in Goa, and how many exact yacht owners will benefit, neither how many fishing boats will benefit, but according to them “everyone will benefit.”
Meanwhile, the promoters say that there has been no objection from the public which has come directly to them.
“What am I violating? What am I causing wrong to the people?” asked Dua. “Let definite issues come up. We are open to dialogue.”
The promoters further said that if people were unable to attend the public hearing on November 2, they could send in their views in writing.
