PORVORIM: The State government on Tuesday informed that the jetty project at Siolim has been stalled following an order by the National Green Tribunal (NGT) even as the contractor has been paid around Rs 4.50 crore as on date.
“As ordered by NGT, the jetty work was stopped. NGT has ordered Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) studies to be carried out and place the same before State Environment Impact Assessment Authority (SEIAA) for approval before proceeding with Jetty and Riverfront Development work,” reads the written reply by Water Resources Minister Vinod Paliencar.
The minister’s reply comes to the question by Congress legislator Aleixo Reginald Lourenco about the present status of the river front or jetty project in Siolim, which was scrapped by the government and if any amount was paid to the contractor.
Herald had exposed through its series of reports in June that a small project of construction of a bund was later converted to construction of a jetty on River Chapora, at Siolim. The notes moved for Administrative Approval, Expenditure Sanction, the tender document and even the Panchayat NOC made no mention of construction of jetty. It had only stated “Development of Riverfront along River Chapora, at Siolim Bardez-Goa.”
Meanwhile, the government has initiated EIA studies which will be placed before SEIAA and thereafter move NGT for completion of the project. The reply mentioned that the project was administratively approved in June 2015 for Rs 9,80,65,000 and expenditure sanction was accorded in February 2015 for Rs 12,15,51,900.
“The project was also cleared by CZMA dated October 30, 2015 and NOC from Captain of Ports dated May 21, 2015,” the minister said.
