PANJIM: The State government
on Friday clarified that the repair and construction of Siolim bund and
beautification of river front along the Chapora River is aimed toward promoting
hinterland tourism and not for anchoring vessels or casino ships.
The National Green Tribunal
(NGT) stayed the controversial project after Goa Coastal Zone Management
Authority (GCZMA) authenticated that the project is a jetty for anchoring
vessels. The project is also facing severe opposition from the locals.
“It is a government project.
The beautification of the river front is aimed towards promoting hinterland
tourism. It is a Rs 13 crore project,” Water Resources Minsiter Dayanand
Mandrekar said, adding that the construction of Siolim bund has been undertaken
at an estimated cost of Rs 2.5 crore.
“Though it is a jetty-like
structure, it is not meant for anchoring any tourism vessel or casino ship. It
is not possible to dock a ship there. A ship can be brought there only by
dismantling it,” the Minister, who is also the Siolim MLA, said in the presence
of Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar.
Mandrekar initially entered
into an argument with media persons after he refused to disclose the kind of
beautification work being undertaken and its purpose. “The people who are
opposing it, themselves have constructed huge buildings in khazan land and
agricultural land. Dayanand Mandrekar does not own any land there. It is a
government project,” he said.
Coming to his colleague’s
rescue, Parsekar said, “For now, tourism in Goa is restricted only to the beaches.
We want to attract them to the hinterland and Siolim project is aimed at it,”
he said.
Suvarnasangeet Vernekar,
representing tenants of agricultural fields, had approached NGT seeking interim
relief in the form of a stay on the alleged illegal project undertaken without
environmental clearance. He had claimed that the construction work had damaged
agricultural field in the area.
