VASCO: The Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar has categorically assured the Sancoale villagers that the State government in no way would clear any marina project at the Sancoale bay.
He said that in the past, the State government had opposed and had even rejected the marina proposal at Sancoale bay as it does not recognise Mormugao Port Trust’s (MPT) right to give permission for marina and even because marina requires different site and Sancoale bay is not the right place for a marina.
The chief minister was speaking to reporters after taking stock of preparedness for the forthcoming annual feast of St Joseph Vaz which would be celebrated in the month of January at old Sancoale church. Cortalim MLA Alina Saldanha, officials of various government department and others were present during the site inspection by Parrikar on Friday evening.
“We are only widening the road leading to the old Sancoale church by six meters till the main gate of the church. However, some people are having apprehension that we are doing this road for marina project. In fact, after visiting the site (old Sancoale church) I came to know that the site where MPT had given permission for marina in Sancoale is close to Old church. Anyway, we have rejected the marina proposal long back and I assure the people that we will not allow any marina at the Sancoale bay,” Parrikar said. He informed that the government opposed marina project at Sancoale bay for two main reasons: First, the government does not recognise MPT’s right to give permission for marina, and second, the Sancoale bay is not the right place for marina.
However, he said that he was not opposed to a marina anywhere at all. “It should be at a right place where it is not going to damage the environment. Goa does not require very big marinas, but small ones where 30 to 50 boats can dock. In fact, marina does not need much of road, it’s basically docking of yachts and big private boats which,” he said.
Cortalim MLA Alina Saldanha said that Sancoale bay is rich in biodiversity and is also an ecologically sensitive area as the bay acts as a breeding ground for some endangered species like window pane oyster, a scheduled species under Wildlife Protection Act, 1972.
