Giving a big thumbs down to the setting up of marinas and shifting of casinos into the Zuari river, the public meeting at Goa Velha on Saturday decided to fight both the decisions of the government tooth and nail till it bows down to the wishes of the people.
Speaking at the meeting, former ZP member Adv Suresh Palkar highlighted how the marina issue has been haunting people since 2010. “The then Congress government kept the project on hold due to the opposition of the people but chided that the current government is now seeking to revive the project,” Palkar informed.
Further, he highlighted that the marina project will severely affect the coastal belt and finish off the fishermen community. “A staggering 1.20 lakh square metres will be allotted for setting up of the marina and dredging of the river bed will be undertaken, which will finish off all fishing activity in the river,” he added.
“Nauxi and Sancoale are fish breeding points and if marinas are set up here, the production of fish will decline, which will in turn affect all fish loving Goans,” Palkar said and gave a clarion call to all Goans to vehemently oppose the project.
Palkar then chided the government for stating that marinas will benefit Goans and stated that it will, in fact, benefit the casinos which the government is trying to shift into the Zuari.
He then challenged the government to organize a public meeting with the locals and justify how the setting up of marinas and shifting of casinos into Zuari river will benefit the locals. Later, Palkar lambasted the local MLA’s sudden silence on the issue when it was he who had formed the anti-marina people’s movement.
Speaking on the occasion, Simon Caiado said that the issues of marinas and casinos does not only concern the fishermen community but every Goan as various ills will be brought into the coastal villages, thereby affecting the peace of the people.
“So, it is time for everyone to rise as one and unitedly oppose the government on the twin issues,” he appealed. Social activist John Viegas also spoke on the occasion. Former sarpanch of Curca, Subhash Dias was also present.
