the goan I network
MARGAO
Allaying fears that the Centre will go ahead with the projects opposed by the local populace, Union Minister for Surface Transport and Inland Waterways Nitin Gadkari on Tuesday assured that the ownership of the two rivers Mandovi and Zuari will remain with the people of Goa and that the Centre will develop the Vijajdurg port in neighbouring Maharashtra if opposition for MPT's expansion plans continues.
THE MINISTER
On opposition to nationalisation of rivers
The Centre will only develop Mandovi and Zuari rivers on the lines of London with dredging to develop them as water ports to facilitate transport
The Centre will build the jetties and other amenities with central grants, but we will not be the owners. The move will boost tourism and employment
We willy only beautify and dredge the rivers. They will be developed with 100 per cent central grant. These rivers will be modern floating jetties, It will be your property Gadkari, however, asserted that the Centre would go ahead with MPT's dredging plans once approval comes from the Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF). He said the government has officially shelved the development of Betul as a minor port taking cognisance of objections raised by the people.
When asked to comment on the opposition brewing up at almost every village gram sabha against coal transportation and river nationalisation, the Union Minister said "I don't want to do forcible development. It is up to the people to decide whether they want a project or not. I have found out that trucks transporting coal are covered properly. Even then, there's opposition. We will not bulldoze against the wishes of the people. We are looking for space at Vijaidurg which will be developed as a port," he told the media on Tuesday after a two-day review meeting of the Ports in India.
On opposition to nationalisation of rivers, the Union Minister sought to allay apprehensions that the centre is on the move to nationalis rivers. "Where's the question of river nationalisation. The Centre will only develop the Mandovi and Zuari rivers on the lines of London with dredging to develop these rivers as water ports to facilitate transport. The Centre will build the jetties and other amenities with central grants, but we will not be the owners. The move will boost tourism and employment. I will not take the rivers in my bag. The Goan rives will remain in Goa. We willy only beautify and dredge the rivers. They will be developed with 100 per cent central grant. These rivers will be modern floating jetties, It will be your property and the Goa government will have to maintain them," he said.
Saying that the rivers are notified for development as per an Act of Parliament, Gadkari said the two
rivers will be handed over to the state government after the development. "We will not take away any river, neither we will stop your fishing rights. We are only creating the facility and will hand over the rivers back to the state government", he said.
Referring to the bridges and road projects funded by the cetnre in Goa, the Union Minister said the Centre has sanctioned Rs 15,000 crore for Goa to expand the road network and build new bridges. "The Zuari bridge is being built by the Centre. It will have a tower and will promote tourism. Once completed, the bridge will remain with the people of Goa. The ownership of the national highways rests with the people. Similarly, the ownership of rivers will be with the state government," he said, adding "I am ready to back out from the Zuari bridge construction if the state government decides to build the same with its funds".
Meanwhile, Gadkari said he has asked the MPT Chairman to check out the status of coal pollution at Vasco due to coal handling at the Port. He also said that an inquiry is initiated to ascertain whether the coal handlers have exceeded the handling coal capacity, while trying to reassure that the the Port Trust and the centre is not come to Goa to damage the environment.
The Minister, however, said the MPT has applied for permission to dredge the area with 18 meter depth at the port to play host to big ships. "Unless there is dredging, even export of iron ore will not be cost effective as the transportation cost goes up with small ships. We will take up the work after receiving approval from the MoEF," he said.
