the goan I network
MARGAO
Asserting that the marina at Nauxim Bay would completely destroy and jeopardise the livelihoods of the fisherman and be an environmental disaster, Congress MLA Reginaldo Lourenco has urged Chief Minister Pramod Sawant to postpone the public hearing scheduled for November 2 until the issue of ownership over the River Zuari water and foreshore area at Nauxim Bay is resolved.
In a letter to the Chief Minister, the three-time Congress MLA reminded the government that the Nauxim Bay area has been documented by NIO as a breeding ground for “windowpane oysters”, a Schedule I protected species under the Wildlife Protection Act.
Reginaldo further asked the Chief Minister to make public the action taken by the State Government to assert its ownership rights over the River Zuari water area and foreshore area, specifically declared under Section 14 (1) of the Goa Land Revenue Code.
“MPT is assuming or claiming to be the “owner” of the water and land area within jurisdiction of its port limits notified under the Major Ports Act. A port administration exercising jurisdiction over port limits would be a mere regulator or facilitator of marine traffic or maritime activities therein. But that by itself would not vest the port with proprietary rights over the area within its jurisdiction. The resolution of this ownership issue not only impacts Nauxim and Sancoale, but all areas within MPT’s jurisdiction where it is claiming ownership. The existing and proposed fishing jetties at Vasco are a case in point,” he said.
The Congress MLA recalled that via a letter dated February 1, 2019, he had shared with the Revenue Minister a copy of lease deed dated 12.10.2010 between Mormugao Port Trust and M/s Kargwal Construction registered in the office of the Sub-Registrar of Ilhas-Panaji whereunder the area of one lakh square meters of River Zuari water area and foreshore area belonging to the Government of Goa was leased. “I had called upon then Revenue Minister to initiate urgent legal steps in public interest to declare the lease deed a nullity in the eyes of the law before any further damage is done,” he added.
A copy of the letter has also been dispatched to the Revenue Minister Jennifer Monserrate for action.
