Goenkars vow not to allow marina project at Nauxim, warn govt not to test their patience

PANJIM: The Union Ministry for Environment’s recent decision to waive off the Environmental Clearance (EC) for the marina project at Nauxim, Bambolim, has ignited a fresh round of protests from the project opponents.

The project opponents held a meeting at Nauxim on Sunday wherein they warned the State government not to test their patience by going ahead with the project and also decided to intensify their protest, come what may.

Addressing a meeting organised under the banner of ‘Goenkars Against Marina’, environmental activist Prof Ramarao Wagh said, “Few years back the project was stopped and the government had assured the people that it is not required. 

Wagh said, “Now, suddenly the Environment Assessment Committee of the Union Ministry of Environment has given the green signal to the project saying that environment clearance is not required for it. Now, the issue will come to the State government. The project now only requires (CRZ) clearance. The protest against the project continues.”

“The environmental impact assessment (EIA) was required for the project 10 years back, but now the government says that it is not required. The Chief Minister makes a statement from Kolkata that the project is required. If it is so, then the government should make it clear who requires it. Earlier, the Chief Minister had said that he would study the project and now the Environment Minister is saying that he will study the project. The fact is that they will not study the project. They just have to follow the instructions of the Central government,” Prof Wagh said, claiming that the project will destroy the livelihood and tradition of the local people.

Wagh demanded that the MLAs, Ministers and government officials should meet the local people and clarify why the project is required for them.

Goenkars Against Marina (GAM) leader Suresh Palkar recalled that the protests against the project started 2010 and have been continuing since then.

Palkar claimed that as per the notification, as many as 13 village panchayats will be affected by the project.

“Now we have decided to protest vigorously. Whatever comes, we will continue with the protest. We had decided to meet MLAs,” he said.

Palkar claimed that the breakaway Shiv Sena group, which had joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led government in Maharashtra a few months back, has been approached by the project proponent and a prominent leader of the group is taking interest in the project.

He said none of the people from the village panchayats, which would be affected by the project, are in favour of the project.

“Now it is do or die for us. We are ready to face anything but will not allow the project,” he said.

Palkar warned the government that it should not test the patience of the people who were protesting against the project.

“We warn the government that our patience should not be tested. We would request the government not to give us a fourth battle against the project,” he said.

Environmental activist Elsa Fernandes said the government has diluted the system of conducting environmental impact assessment.

“Question is, has the system of having EIA done before the project changed? If yes, then why has the project remained the same?” Fernandes asked.

Former sarpanch Prakash Phadte said the government has not done anything good but is hell bent on damaging the environment.

Recently, the Union Ministry for Environment and Forests and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) granted approval for the proposed AHOY Marina in the waters of the Mormugao Port Authority (MPA).

The Ministry has specified that the project does not require Environmental Clearance (EC) but must secure all other necessary permissions. 

“The EAC, taking into account the submission made by the project proponent had a detailed deliberation in its 341st meeting during October 5, 2023 and observed that the components mentioned in the project does not come under the ambit of EIA notification 2006 as amended and does not require EC at the Ministry. However, the project proponent needs to take other statutory clearances as applicable as per CRZ notification,” the minutes of the Expert Appraisal Committee of the Ministry said.