VASCO: Minister for Environment and Forest, Alina Saldhana, once again challenged the government by openly protesting its move to allow construction of marinas at Bambolim and Sancoale. She stressed that she was and would always be against such projects as they would destroy biodiversity hotspots and rob the livelihoods of several villagers living on both sides of the Zuari river.
On April 13, the Goa Investment Promotion Board cleared 11 proposals – including the setting up of two marinas – worth Rs 1,137 crore. Opposition against the marinas soon built up at Sancoale, with villagers now demanding the projects be scrapped.
Speaking to reporters at an event in Cansaulim on Thursday evening, Saldanha said, “Goa is a small, dot size State and thus, it (Goa) does not have the right site for such marina projects. If at all our State was as big as Karnataka or Maharashtra, where you have ample land, then we could have considered this proposal. However, looking at the circumstances, marinas are unfit for the State.”
She also highlighted the importance of the Sancoale bay, which was not only a heritage site, but also a very important biodiversity site. She stated, “For setting up a marina, one would require dredging beyond five meters, which will surely disturb the biodiversity, besides hampering the operations of several fishermen who are dependent on the river Zuari for their livelihood.
