Opposition to draft jetty policy resounds in Salcete villages

THE GOAN NETWORK | OCTOBER 31, 2022, 12:21 AM IST

MARGAO

Even as the anti-jetty policy 2022 protestors took out a rally from Saxttidom against the controversial policy on Sunday, gram sabha of three more Salcete villages joined their counterparts in demanding rejection of the policy lock, stock and barrel.

In fact, the opposition to the jetty policy reverberated around Salcete countryside with the gram sabhas of coastal villages of Orlim and Carmona, besides Nuvem, vehemently objecting to the policy and demanding its scrapping.

The gram sabha members have urged the sarpanchas of these villages to send the resolutions adopted at the meetings to the Tourism department on priority.

NUVEM

At the Nuvem gram sabha, members pointed out that the draft jetty policy reveals that the new jetties will have private owners and operators and shall be only for the private profit of such rich owners. There is no public interest behind the construction of these jetties, the members pointed out while opposing the policy.

Members further pointed out that the inclusion of river Zuari and the other five rivers of Goa in the Schedule to the National Waterways Act 2016 is unconstitutional and a criminal assault upon the ownership, possession and rights of the local communities over their rivers and “appurtenant” (adjoining) lands.

Contrary to the statements made by Tourism Minister Rohan Khaunte that the policy is only related to tourism, the jetty policy empowers the Jetty Management Committee (JMC) to decide the carrying capacity of any river in Goa. The JMC has no experience or knowledge to understand or determine the carrying capacity of any river of Goa, they added.

Nuvem sarpanch Frida D’Sa said the gram sabha meeting unanimously adopted the resolution rejecting the jetty policy. She informed that the panchayat would submit the resolution to the Tourism department for action.

ORLIM

The jetty policy was also rejected unanimously by the gram sabha of Orlim.

Orlim sarpanch Simon Pereira told The Goan that the jetty policy came up for discussions at the gram sabha meeting, wherein the members unanimously rejected the policy.

He said the members were clear in their opposition to the policy, adding that the panchayat would send the resolution rejecting the policy to the Tourism department for consideration and action.

CARMONA

Cries against the controversial jetty policy were also heard at the Carmona gram sabha.

Sarpanch Prisco Rodrigues informed that the jetty policy was unanimously rejected by the gram sabha members, who have mandated the panchayat to send the resolution to the Tourism department.

ECHO IN SALCETE

Several gram sabhas of Salcete panchayats, including the Loutolim gram sabha, have adopted resolutions rejecting the jetty policy.

In fact, the gram sabhas have lamented that the draft jetty policy does not consider or even mention the catastrophic plans for the transportation of coal through the rivers and villages, although it is obvious that tourism will be impossible if the Sagarmala programme is allowed to be implemented. This can only mean that the Tourism Department is not sincere in its objectives and has no real concern for tourism, the gram sabhas have stated.

Resolutions adopted by the gram sabhas have pointed out that the inclusion of river Zuari and the other five rivers of Goa in the Schedule to the National Waterways Act 2016 is unconstitutional and a criminal assault upon the ownership, possession and rights of the local communities over their rivers and “appurtenant” (adjoining) lands.

They said the Captain of Ports has proposed jetties at Shiroda, Sanvordem/Borim, Banastarim, Old Goa, Ribandar, Pilgao, Rassaim, Aldona and Durbhat to enhance the performance of the country’s logistics as per ‘Sagarmala Project’, which was done without consulting the villagers and is opposed by all the affected panchayats and people. 

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