PANJIM: The delegation of MLAs and villagers from Curca, Bambolim, Talaulim on Tuesday called on Chief Minister Dr Pramod Sawant demanding that the scheduled public hearing on proposed AHOY Marina project at Nauxi village, on November 2, be postponed pending finalisation of the coastal zone management plan (CZMP) of the State.
Claiming that the project is nothing but an environmental destruction, the delegation strongly opposed the projected facility. The chief minister is expected to take a call on postponing public hearing by Wednesday evening, in consultation with North Goa Collector and officials of Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB).
AHOY Marina, as it will be known, will be developed by Kargwal Constructions Pvt Limited as per the Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) report. The public hearing on the project, to be conducted by GSPCB is scheduled on November 2 at Dr Shyama Prasad Mukherjee stadium from 10 am onwards.
The delegation was represented by St Cruz MLA Tony Fernandes, Cortalim MLA Alina Saldanha and Congress Curtorim MLA Alexio Reginaldo Lourenco.
Speaking to media persons after the meeting, Saldanha said that the delegation has strongly put up before the chief minister that pending finalisation of CZMP, the scheduled public hearing be postponed. “CZMP is a crucial document which speaks about the environment, ecology and eco-sensitive areas of the village. Until the plan is ready, how can we have a public hearing without knowing what the people of Nauxi have said in the plan,” she said.
She said that the chief minister has assured of positive response in consultation with the Collector and GSPCB officials. “We have urged the CM to study in detail and pros and corns of the Marina project, which is proposed in the eco-sensitive area,” the former minister said.
Saldanha pointed out that the in-principal approval granted to Marina project, proposed at Nauxi and Sancole, was withdrawn by Investment Promotion Board (IPB) under then chief minister late Manohar Parrikar.
Earlier, Lourenco said that he is confident that the chief minister would not allow the project to take shape as it is against the public interest.
Local Ramrao Wagh said that the proposed project is nothing but environmental and ecological destruction of the Nauxi village. “The fishing community will be deprived of their livelihood,” he said.
Wagh alleged that the project proponents have hidden the fact that they would undertake 3000 cubic meter of dredging in the Zuari bay, which is harmful for marine life.
Wife of former St Andre MLA late Vishnu Wagh, Aruna said that the chief minister should carry forward the legacy of Manohar Parrikar, who had stopped the project in the past in public interest.
