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PANJIM: Ports Minister Michael Lobo said that the government has kept on hold decision to construct a floating jetty at Chapora and a decision will be taken after taking traditional fishermen and all stakeholders into confidence after next Assembly elections.
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Lobo said that due to protests by the Chapora villagers, the floating jetty has been now temporarily kept at Camurlim and that a decision will be taken by the new government in April next year.
Lobo said that due to ensuing Assembly elections, there is hue and cry over the proposal to set up the floating jetty at Chapora. These jetties are exclusively designed for passenger boats but villagers fear that it will be used for coal transportation which is not correct, he added.
The Union Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways had sanctioned four floating concrete jetties in Goa for passenger transportation. So far two floating jetties have been built at Panjim and at Old Goa while, the work of building another jetty at Miramar is on.
According to Lobo, in the past, Goa had ferryboats for transportation. Today everybody wants to use cars. But the government will explore inland waterways and see that not only tourists but locals also travel by this means of transport.
Stating that the government is creating infrastructure for inland waterways, the Minister stressed the need of building as many as 15 floating jetties across the State and introduction of 60-seater catamaran boat services.
“Even inland waterways have to start from Sanquelim Constituency represented by Chief Minister Pramod Sawant,” he said.
“Inland waterways, is a unique mode of transport and it will boost tourism,” Lobo said.
