Wesley Edward Pereira

The coastal security operations planned from INS Hansa are closely linked to the hidden development plans of the South Konkan-Maharashtra Coastal Economic Zone (CEZ) under the Sagarmala project. The Mopa Airport near the Goa-Maharashtra boundary is an important component of the passenger and cargo transportation plans of the South Konkan-Maharashtra CEZ for promoting massive tourism projects in Sindhudurg district, huge food processing park near Ratnagiri and Special Economic Zone (SEZ)/National Investment and Manufacturing Zone (NIMZ) projects of Karnataka and Maharashtra. 

According to the Draft Regional Plan Goa-2021 policy document prepared by the task force for Regional Plan for Goa -2021(Refer page XIV), the location of the new airport for transporting passenger and cargo at Mopa has a catchment that extends into southern Maharashtra and the northern and western regions of Karnataka. Also, the transportation expansion networks (road, rail, waterways and airports) highlighted in the Draft Regional Plan Goa-2021 policy document (refer page X to page XIV) are actually required for promoting commercial projects in villages and these projects have the potential to destroy the existing peaceful village settlement areas and  eco-sensitive zones. 

The multi-modal transportation hubs and the rail project to double track the South Western Railway line from Collem to Margao are closely linked to the development of Port at Betul, under the long-term Mormugao major Port master plan. Instead of keeping under short-term suspension, there is a need to scrap the Betul Port and the unsustainable supporting transportation connectivity projects to save the peaceful villages of Goa. Also, why should the Vijaydurg port in South Konkan district of Maharashtra be included in the master plan of the Mormugao major port of Goa? Is it not possible to prepare long-term sustainable business development plans of Goa for supporting  the master plans of Mormugao major port?

The development of Chapora River (33 kms?), Mapusa/Moide River(27 kms?) and Sal River(14 kms?) have been included along with the rivers of Maharashtra in Cluster-7. This is highlighted in the feasibility report dated April 2016 for the Mapusa/Moide River prepared for the Inland Waterways Authority of India(IWAI). Why should these rivers of Goa be included along with the rivers of Maharashtra? There are no clearances / approvals for this feasibility report.

It is shocking that work for the development, maintenance and operation of national waterways infrastructure for Mapusa National waterway and other National Waterways in Goa is going to be taken up soon. These national waterways infrastructure projects are linked to hidden unsustainable transportation connectivity plans and massive commercial development projects. Therefore, the National waterways in Goa should be immediately rejected to prevent man-made disasters in the peaceful and beautiful tiny State.