MARGAO
Claiming that some of the government decisions including the double-tracking project have been against the interests of the state, South Goa MP Francisco Sardinha on Wednesday demanded a white paper on the proposed Urban Water transport project mooted by the Centre for Goa.
Sardinha further said he is also confused over the 'Port Limits’ figuring in the Coastal Zone Management Plans (CZMPs), demanding that the State and Central governments need to come clear on the jurisdiction of the MPT in Goa.
Addressing the media in the presence of Congress vice-president M K Sheikh and district president Joe Dias, the MP expressed his shock and surprise over the Centre’s Urban Water Transport system project proposed in Goa without taking the people into confidence nor explaining what the plan is all about. "The government should bring out a white paper on the urban water transport system project and take the people into confidence before moving for its implementation,” he said.
Citing the case of the double-tracking project, Sardinha said the existing track is sufficient to run the passenger and goods trains, adding that the second track should not be laid by razing down heritage and other residential structures of the people.
“We don’t need track doubling, but the Centre and the government is bulldozing the project for their vested interests,” he added.
Demanding that the Centre and the state government stop playing hide and seek on controversial projects, Sardinha said the elected representatives, including the MPs and MLA, besides the people, should go through the urban water transport system project before taking any decision.
On the lack of clarity vis-à-vis the Ports Limits marked on the beachfront and the rivers, and with Environment Minister Nilesh Cabral admitting he is confused over the Port Limits jurisdiction, Sardinha said he too is confused over the same, while underlining the need for the State and Central government to come clear over the jurisdiction of the Mormugao Port Trust (MPT).
The MP hailed the High Court verdict on Ward reservations, claiming the government was trying to deny certain communities, including women, the reservations as enshrined under the Constitution.
