OLD GOA
Even as Revolutionary Goans Party claimed victory over Mormugao Port Authority terminating the lease deed of Kargwal Constructions over setting up of the Nauxim marina, Goenkars Against Marina (GAM) convenor Adv Suresh Palkar said the lease termination was a concerted effort of the people who supported the agitation backed by GAM.Speaking to The Goan, Palkar informed that initially it was GAM which forced the government to cancel the EIA public hearing on the marina, which was a prerequisite for setting up the project.
“We held public protests, after which the government was forced to cancel the public hearing,” Palkar pointed out.
“Later, Kargwal Constructions approached the High Court with a plea to hold the public hearing in which I, Arturo D’Souza and the government were made respondents. Here too, we raised our objections to the holding of the public hearing after which the HC dismissed the company’s plea,” Palkar added.
Further, it was GAM which had first raised objections to the lease deed by pointing out that the same has lapsed and the company has not been able to get the requisite licences within the stipulated period.
“In the affidavit filed by MPA, they have clearly outlined that the lease deed has been terminated because the EIA has not been approved and the lease deed has lapsed,” Adv Palkar informed and stated that only the people can claim victory for the development.
However, Adv Palkar cautioned the people that they cannot rest until and unless the marina is totally scrapped.
“There is still a possibility that the marina could be revived as the MPA has sweeping powers and it can bypass the local government,” Palkar warned.
“Aware of the same, GAM had submitted its objections to Union Minister Shripad Naik way back in 2021,” he informed and stated that any efforts to revive the marina project will be opposed tooth and nail.
