PANAJI
The Mormugao Port Authority (MPA) has attempted to allay apprehensions around the marina project in Nauxim claiming it will be only a working facility.
“We are coming up with a superyacht marina dock for yachting activities. The proposal is being actively considered if it is feasible. The marina is only a working facility,” MPA Chairman Dr N Vinodkumar said while speaking to a news channel on the sidelines of the G20 meeting on Tuesday.
He also urged people to convey their objections, if any, to the MPA rather than taking to other platforms to express their grievances. With the withdrawal order, a public hearing for environmental clearance is set to be scheduled shortly.
The MPA, on Monday, submitted to the High Court that it was withdrawing the previously issued show cause notice to M/s Kargwal Construction Pvt Ltd (KCPL) regarding the setting up of a controversial marina in Nauxim village. The shocking U-turn comes a year after it announced the termination of its lease agreement with the company.
The MPA had issued a show cause notice to the company on March 14, inquiring why the lease deed dated October 10, 2010, should not be terminated. The notice highlighted that since the agreement was signed between the MPA and KCPL, the latter failed to submit the required final NOCs or clearances for the project, nor had physical possession of the area been handed over to the company.
In response to the notice, the MPA dated April 4 denied the allegations of being liable to pay damages amounting to Rs 88 crore, as claimed by KCPL. Chief Engineer Suresh Patil thereafter said that the MPA decided to withdraw the show cause notice.
