PANJIM: It’s clear. The Goa government has clearly and unequivocally backed the nationalisation of six waterways in Goa.
The Union Shipping ministry has confirmed of getting Goa’s full support to river nationalisation, even as there has been mounting opposition against what many call the abject surrender of Goa’s water resources to the centre
“No. The consent of Goa government was obtained before the declaration of six National Waterways in Goa,” Union Minister for Shipping Mansukh Mandaviya said in reply to a question tabled by RS MP Shantaram Naik.
This is contrary to what Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar had said in October 2016. “The MoU states that the waterways will be developed ‘jointly with the government of Goa on mutually convenient terms and conditions. Only if the government of Goa is supportive of this idea will it sign the MoU with the Inland waterways authority of India, after spelling out the role and responsibilities of the authority and the state with details of priority and exhibition plan”.
On August 9, 2016, even earlier, the CM said in the Assembly, “All stakeholders would be taken into confidence before the signing of agreement with the Centre over nationalisation of six rivers.”
The reply in the Rajya Sabha further states, “The objective of declaration of these rivers as National Waterways is to make them navigable for movement of cargo and passengers.”
The minister further submitted that Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) has held consultations with the Goa government and Mormugao Port Trust (MPT) on issues such as dredging, river training works, bank protection, terminal construction with equipment, navigational aids, etc to develop the national waterways.
“A Memorandum of Understanding has been signed between IWAI and MPT based on the consultation for development of six national waterways in Goa in a phased manner,” the reply said. The State has seen stiff opposition to handing over the jurisdiction of inland waterways to the Central government.
The Union government had declared Rivers Zuari, Mandovi, Chapora, Cumbharjua canal, Mapusa and Sal as national waterways, last year. Then River Navigation Minister Ramkrishna Dhavalikar had clarified that the decision of jurisdiction of the rivers was still at a preliminary stage.
