MARGAO
With a storm brewing along Salcete countryside over plans to build three jetties along the River Sal course, Aleixo Sequeira, who also holds the Ports portfolio, on Friday categorically stated that there is no proposal whatsoever before the government to put up jetties in River Sal.
In fact, Sequeira took a dig at the Congress leaders, including South Goa MP Viriato Fernandes for dreaming about the proposal to set up the three jetties in River Sal.
“There is a big hue and cry regarding an “imagined” announcement that the Inland Waterways Authority of India is coming up with three jetties in the River Sal. As Minister for Ports, I would like to categorically assure that there is no proposal before the government whatsoever to put the jetties in River Sal,” Sequeira said.
Allaying apprehensions of the people on the proposed jetties, the Minister said the jetties which are being referred are supposed to be community jetties. “The jetties which I am referring to are not the normal jetties, where they tie up a casino boat,” he said.
Making an appeal to the people who are objecting to the jetties to study the proposal, if any, and then come and shout, Sequeira said people should not shout for the sake of shouting in order to misguide the people. “Just because somebody does not want something, you cannot stop. Today, the Cavelosim panchayat has approached me to repair the jetty and also start work on the training wall at the River Sal mouth. There are some people, who are representing organisations and who have got massive jetties. Shall we stop those jetties first,” he questioned.
While the Minister has categorically ruled out new jetties along the River Sal course, sources in the know told The Goan there is a proposal to set up six new jetties in the State, including Cortalim and Agassaim, but none of these jetties are proposed in South Goa.
Referring to the allegations made on his property at Carmona, Sequeira invited the media to check the development, saying he can produce all the permissions obtained from the authorities.
To a question, the Minister said there is no change in the existing sound timings, saying the government has powers to extend the timing till midnight for 15 days in a year.
Meanwhile, Sequeira assured Cavelossim Sarpanch Dixon Vaz that the government would take up the work on the training wall at the River Sal mouth to ensure smooth navigation for fishing and other vessels.
‘Unaware whether ONGC is constructing jetty at Betul’
MARGAO: Saying he has no idea whether the ONGC is building a jetty at Betul, Environment Minister Aleixo Sequeira, however, said that ONGC is developing its property at Betul to host an international conference scheduled later this year in December.
“I am unaware whether ONGC is constructing a jetty at Betul. But, all I can say is that the ONGC has obtained permissions to carry out developmental work in its property at Betul. The works are being carried out to host an international conference in Betul wherein leaders from 20-25 countries of the world will be attending,” he said.
He added: “ONGC has got permissions from the environment point of view, but I have no idea whether they have applied for any permission to build a jetty. I will check.”
