So much has been said, written, debated and brought to the attention of public on the above issue, not only in Goa and throughout India and abroad too, I have a few strong reasons why it will not happen at all.
Firstly: Central Government has sanctioned three important projects in India and the first of its kind in Goa.i.e. Water Sports Adventure Facility of which the work is in progress at Aivao – Caranzalem below Raj Bhavan.
There is no need of any marina in Goa within 10 kms vicinity of the proposed Central Government Project and any other Project coming within that vicinity is to sabotage and kill an ideal project. Other two being Aero Sports at Gwalior and Mountaineering at Dehra Dun, therefore Goa is blessed with this important project and it should not be allowed to be sabotaged and carry out other detrimental activities. The areas where this marina is proposed is in the most fragile marine eco-sensitive zone where traditional Goans and now Kannadigas are doing harvesting sea-shell, muscels, window pane oysters etc; for centuries now, sustaining the demand and supply of sea-food of State of Goa. (We have to be grateful to the former MP John Fernandes who was instrumental in securing this project to the State of Goa as a Member of Consultative Committee of Tourism and Civil Aviation.) This is akin to destroying our Central Government Dabolim Airport by proposing unwanted, non-feasible Private Participation Project called “Mopa Airport”.
Secondly: Almost two years ago, after the enrolment drive of BJP members at BJP office in Panjim, the then Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar had a Press Conference down in the compound, where I as a convener of Citizens for Protection of Sancoale Village, had brought up this subject to his attention and his firm and clear assurance to me and to entire Goan public was this in his own words: “I know what is marina, the big yachts will come inside the Bay, will park there undertake repairs and spill the oil and kill the marine life and rest assured, I will never allow the marina to come to Sancoale and if at all they insist let them go to the Arabian Sea”.
Thirdly: If Parsekar`s Government is challenging the former Chief Minister and present Defence Minister Parrikar, let Goa State Bio-Diversity Board, who has given its honest opinion that the Sancoale Bay is ecologically sensitive area and it is the breeding ground for one of the most endangered species – Plecuna Plesandra known as windowpane oysters and that this Bay is highly unsuitable and if their advice is ignored and Government forcibly goes ahead with the project, shut shop and go home.
Finally, there is no doubt, we the people of Sancoale, Cortalim-Quelossim, Dabolim-Chicalim-Issorcim-Bogmallo, San Jacinto Island and Vasco da Gama and adjoining places, whose families are dependent on the rich resources of the River Zuari, will come to the streets in thousands and fight this demon tooth and nail.
There is a funny story behind the names of some Goan villages and towns, such as: During Portuguese times the soldiers and sailors, when they wanted to have some fun and were looking for young girls used to knock at their doors and the mothers used to say, it seems, “Bai-Na” so the Vasco town was called “Baina”. Similarly, the Curtorim bhatkar was looking for someone`s mother and the daughter said – “Mai Na” so the village was called “Maina”. And now Chowgule is looking for his former secretary called “Mari” so Sancoalcars told him “Marina”.
