TEAM HERALD
CANACONA: The State government’s ambitious proposal for a marina at Talpona (Canacona) will take up large chunks of out of its coastline. The government seeks to set up the marina on an area of 15,000 to 20,000 sq. mts land-area and 30,000 sq mts water-area adjoining an existing 5-star hotel. The estimated cost could be between Rs 40-50 crore, considering smaller scale works for dredging, breakwater, jetty building, etc.
Shockingly, though the draft plans are ready the fishing community was never consulted at any stage of the proposed project, even though the first notification for expansion of mini ports at Panjim, Tiracol, Chapora, Betul and Talpona was published in Govt of Goa gazette dated March 2, 2006. On Jan 23, 2009 the Caption of Ports put up a note for a proposal to extend the port limits of all the minor ports in the State and seeks in-principle approval of the government after a meeting was convened on January 21, 2009 in office of Secretary (Ports) at the Secretariat.
The proposed marina will cordon off for marina activities an extensive area right from Pandigat point (a part of Agonda village) in the north of Talpona to a point in Loliem village (towards the South) an estimated 5.25 nautical miles (9,723 mts) into the sea from Pandigat point (Agonda) and 8.36 nautical miles (15,482.7 mts) into the Sea from the Loliem point. The distance to join the two ends into the sea is shown as 6.3 nautical miles (11,667.6 mts).
According to a CoP letter to TCP, in the pipeline was a proposed passenger jetty in Talpona river for the Marina, adjacent to part of Survey no.28 of Nagarcem village; Proposed Operation Area on the landward side under part of S.No.28; Proposed area required for operation will be 50,000 sqm for marina activities; Proposed transport jetty in Talpona river for port operations adjacent to S.No.189 of Poinguinim village; Proposed operation areas on landward side under part of s.no.192 of Poinguinim village for port activities and Proposed areas required for operation will be 1,00,000 sq mts for the port activities.
In July 2012, the CoP even received an expression of interest for development of yacht marinas in Goa from a foreign based company named Arrol Ltd, The Marina Experts to provide technical and commercial input to development of yacht marinas in Goa.
“I am most experienced marina professional in the international market, furthermore, I am very familiar with the coastline, rivers and backwaters of Goa,” was the Managing Director Simon J Arrol CEng FICR comment with the proposal.
A desalination plant to process saltwater into freshwater and to supply the treated water is also being planned.
“For the community involved in traditional fishing occupation, this can only mean that our activities will be banned along the entire coastline which will be cordoned off from Agonda (Pandigat point) to Loliem Point, where only marina activities involving 25-50 boats will be permitted,” fisherman have told Herald with Kishore Painguinkar a local arguing that the “The proposed Marina is a pleasure/leisure water-sports, so the fishing activities of local fishermen are most likely not be permitted. Or even if permitted will be restricted, considering the routine movements of yachts or other boats.
