While the apprehensions of many communities linked to Goan rivers were raised over the past four to five months over what was felt to be a surrender of our river resources to the Centre, it is perhaps time to reassess if all apprehensions have been cleared and doubts removed, after the presentation of the MoU that the State will sign with the Centre on Goan rivers. At the same time, it is fair for those who have been opposing the MoU to ask for a mechanism by which the assurances can smoothly be delivered, through a laid down structure
Without taking anything away from the reasons for these apprehensions which were being raised, the specific detailing of the assurances by the Chief Minister need to be studied and further queries or questions may well be asked. But it’s also important to process the broad but clear assurances and then view the initial apprehensions in the context of these assurances and then figure if the basis for these apprehension still exist or not.
Among the clarifications made by Mr Parrikar, is that the MoU with the Centre, will hand over control back to the State in terms of giving approvals. He said that there is a clause which the State has insisted on and agreed is that without approval and consent of the Goa government no project will be taken and no PPP project at least in dredging and navigation will happen.
What assumes more significance is that local communities will be taken into confidence before dredging the rivers and dredging will happen only when required.
Those opposing the MoU on waterways with the Centre need to extricate the full significance and detailing of these assurances and have the right to ensure that this happens. For instance the mechanism to take fisher-folk into confidence pre dredging, can be planned, discussed and implemented. This can be done either through public hearings or through discussions with an appointed committee/team from the fisher-folk community whose members are trusted by the community.
Now dredging is a sensitive and a delicate issue which needs to be handled carefully. If there is an assurance that dredging will not be carried out to enable coal laden vessels to move, then it is an activity which should be a precursor to freeing up the backwaters for passenger as well as hinterland tourism, where the backwaters can be explored and used effectively. The indications from the highest echelons of government are that passenger transport and hinterland tourism, making use of water bodies which have been lying unused, will be encouraged post dredging the backwaters.
According to the Chief Minister the ball park expenses for the dredging of the entire stretch of the river bodies, will be about Rs 1200 crore and this clearly cannot be done with State funds alone.
It is important now that the apprehensions of those opposing the MoU with the Centre, regarding the perception of the State “sell out” has to be debated internally among the opposition camp and a strategy should be adopted to ensure that the assurances of the CM – which prima facie seem to assuage the major doubts – are translated to practice. Moreover if there are still points which have not been addressed let a proper note be prepared based on solid reasoning and a meeting sought for further clarifications.
While the right to protest and oppose should never be taken away from people, now or any point of time, there is enough justification in this case, to find a mid way path and take the assurances given for serious study and deliberation.
