PANJIM: Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari on Monday said that the Centre wants to develop marinas in Goa but assured that no injustice would be meted out to fishermen.
“We want to develop marinas in Goa but I am told there are some land-related issues,” Gadkari said at a press conference after chairing the 16th Maritime State Development Council meeting, in Dona Paula.
Gadkari stated that Union Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar and Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar are working on the issue of marinas and it would be sorted out soon. “Once the land issues are settled we will have good marinas being set up in the State,” he said.
When it was pointed out that there is opposition from the fishing community for such projects, he said the Union government is not against anyone’s welfare. “We want their earnings to double. All the fishermen will have a special place in marinas. I want them to cooperate with the government,” he said. He added, “We will safeguard the interests of the fishing community and they need not worry. However, they must support modernisation.”
Goa State Bio-Diversity Board has also resolved against marinas, claiming that they are not environment friendly. The State had identified two places – Sancoale and Nauxi – for the proposed marina projects.
The Centre is supporting the sea plane project, which will take some of the load of road traffic, he said. “We have asked the State government to check the possibility whether airports and railway stations can be connected through waterways,” Gadkari said.
Gadkari also announced the revision of a special scheme for creating smaller jetties across the country.
“Under the revised scheme, the passenger jetty will get 50 per cent subsidy up to Rs 10 crore while the container jetty will get up to Rs 25 crore from the Union government,” he said.
The revision of a scheme is to take off the load of passenger and goods traffic from the road.
Responding to a question on whether this would cover the offshore casino industry, Gadkari said the Centre will clear all proposals sent by the State. “The jetty can be used by casino industry or any other industry, we will have no say in it,” he added.
