Team Herald
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 towards 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 Minister 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.
