the goan I network
PANAJI
‘Goenkars Against Marina’ a collective of opponents of the massive private project ‘Ahoy Marina’ proposed at Nauxim on Monday met Chief Minister Pramod Sawant and demanded that the project be scrapped, raising various objections including wiping out of livelihoods of tribals and fishermen in the area.
Among several objections listed in the detailed written memorandum presented to the Chief Minister, the opponents of the project have termed illegal the 30-year concession agreement for rights over the water front entered into in 2010 by the Mormugao Port Trust (MPT) and the project proponents - Kargwal Constructions Private Limited.
Another objection to the project raised in the written memorandum presented to Sawant is the elimination of livelihoods of the local fishermen which will be brought about by the project.
The project will cause irreversible damage to the estuarine ecosystem and destroy the rich marine life documented by research papers done by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) as well as the National Institute of Oceanography (NIO), the memorandum said.
The project in Nauxim, a fishing hamlet on the Northern banks of the Zuari river, was proposed by the Mumbai-based firm and got the backing of the Mormugao Port Trust way back in 2010.
It was however pushed to the back-burner after vociferous protests on at least two occasions in the past.
Around a fortnight ago, however, the project saw a revival of sorts after the Goa State Pollution Control Board scheduled a ‘public hearing’ for November 2, to discuss its impact on the environment under the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Act.
The project envisages building over 250 berthing facilities for small crafts and yachts and is planned over 3-lakh square meters of water spread and an additional 50,000 square meters of land area.
Interestingly, the group comprised of individuals from diverse political backgrounds and was led by the local MLA Francis Silveira, who’s stand for-or-against the project was ambiguous until recently.
