PANJIM: All India Trinamool Congress Party (AITC) MP Luizinho Faleiro on Thursday in the Rajya Sabha demanded repeal of The Major Ports Authorities Act, stating that it was an assault on the Federal structure of the country and that the Central government has hidden agenda to make Goa a coal hub.
Raising the issues of destruction of rivers, destruction of ecology of Goa and assault on federalism, Faleiro said that Goa is known as jewel in the crown of India with the spread of 11 rivers mostly originating from Western Ghats to the Arabian Sea. These mighty rivers represent the lifeline of people of Goa and have mostly ports and navigational channels.
Faleiro said that with the implementation of Major Ports Authorities Act, 2021, nationalisation of Goan rivers, implementation of three linear projects, double tracking of railway lines, expansion of national highways, power transmission projects through wildlife sanctuaries, there is a widespread anger on the overreach of powers by the Centre, whose hidden agenda is to make Goa a coal hub. Goa is a tourist destination and not a coal destination, he told the Upper House.
The Goa government, which is really a double engine sarkar (government) had also informed the Goa Assembly on July 29, 2021 and written to the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways on June 17, 2021 to repeal The Major Ports Authorities Act as it conflicts and usurps the Goan laws like Town and Country Planning (TCP) Act, Regional Plan, Outline Development Plans (ODPs) made thereunder, Goa Panchayati Raj Act,. Goa Municipalities Act, Goa Land Revenue Code and the Goa Land Development. This draconian law is an assault on the Federal structure of the country, he said.
“I join people of Goa, Government of Goa to repeal The Major Ports Authorities Act 2021,” he demanded giving an example of the Mormugao Port Trust (MPT), which is already converted to the Mormugao Ports Authority (MPA) even though Goa does not have a single power project. The Goa government has signed to import 13 million tonnes of coal thereby making Goa a coal hub,” said.
“I request Union Minister (Shripad Naik) who is son of Goa, who had promised to change or at least amend it, then it should be amended immediately,” Faleiro said.
