VASCO: In what is turning out to be yet another dispute between two BJP MLAs, Cortalim MLA Alina Saldanha did not take too kindly the recent veiled criticism against her by Dabolim MLA Mauvin Godinho. While the two legislators have a long-standing rivalry, the latest bone of contention has been about the proposed Mini India project, which is being backed by the panchayat minister and opposed by the locals.
In response to Godinho’s statement in support of the proposal, Saldanha said he should shift the project to his constituency in view of how Godinho had spoken about it being beneficial to the locals.
She further questioned if the project had obtained the necessary NOCs/Permissions for the project from Goa Investment Promotion Board (GIPB), Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority (GCZMA) and the local panchayat. She pointed out that the project which is earmarked for Quellosim, was initially a proposal which consisted of a 5-Star category Resort, House Boats, Floating Cottages, Water Sports activity & floating platforms for Mini India Park i.e. the miniatures.
Godinho claimed that the plan has changed wherein only floating platforms will be installed for the miniatures and no construction activity. “Has the original plan been withdrawn? Has the revised plan been placed before the authorities for approval?” asked Alina.
She also pointed out that the proponent had claimed they had the NOC from the Captain of Ports (CoP). “Is this NOC valid over the wetland/Khazan land, which is not a part of the river? Further, the NOC from CoP states that all the requisite NOCs from all the competent authorities concerned should be obtained before commissioning of the floating platforms which is definitely note done” she added.
Elaborating further, she said the ground reality is that GIPB permission for Mini India Park Project stands withdrawn from January, 2018 and the GCZMA permission is not obtained till date. Besides, she pointed out that the GCZMA in its report dated 17/2/2017 has stated very definitely that the concerned area is a wetland and therefore a ‘No Development Zone’. She reasoned that this meant the NOC/Permission granted by CoPs stands invalid given the fact the proponent has no other permissions from the authorities concerned.
She further took potshots at Godinho’s statement in support of the project. She also alleged that there is hardly any space and that the only area there is the narrow bundhs, which are being illegally filled by the proponent. She also refused to buy the panchayat minister’s argument that there will be no construction as she believed as a restaurant will be constructed as part of the project to cater to the incoming visitors.
