TEAM HERALD
CANACONA: Resentment is brewing over the proposed Talpona marina in Canacona taluka, with the three affected panchayats and the municipal council unhappy that the State government had kept its residents in the dark over the project.
The four elected bodies have begun building pressure to get the government to reconsider the ambitious project, as they see it as a backdoor entry to high-end tourists affiliated to a starred hotel in the area.
While Canacona Municipal Council (CMC) Chairperson Simon Rebello has assured to support the people of the affected region, ZP (Poinguinim) member Daya Pagi has denounced the entire project as “totally illegal.”
“Since the matter is being pursued at the department level, there is a lot of anxiety among the people, especially after the entire issue has now been exposed. A lot of people have approached me since Sunday, when the matter was first highlighted by Herald,” said Rebello.
“I had to assure the locals that the CMC is with the people, and will do everything possible, if the proposed Talpona marina project will affect their livelihood or their traditional occupation.”
“The newly elected All Goa Kshetriya Pagi Samaj (AGKPS) president, which represents the fishing community and a sizeable number of residents in Canacona taluka, also approached me and informed that a representation has been submitted to local MLA and Sports Minister Ramesh Tawadkar. I have sought a copy of the petition and will pursue the matter with the government through our MLA,” Rebello added.
When contacted, Bhushan Prabhugaonkar, sarpanch of Loliem-Polem, the coastal village which is also partially included in the proposed Talpona Marina said, “The positives and negatives of the project needs to be discussed by the locals.”
“It is possible that once the project (so far kept hidden from the locals) is openly discussed, residents may see some benefits and could opt for it. Mere opposition will not help, but I’ll always go with the decision of our residents, to either have it or reject it in our village,” said Prabhugaonkar.
Poinguinim Sarpanch Mahesh Naik insisted that he was unaware of the proposed marina in his village, which is expected to donate land through land acquisition for the main marina base.
“Our gram sabha had already passed a resolution against an upcoming water sports facility along our village coast. We had already written to CRZ authorities to refrain from issuing any NOC to water sports activities.’
When reminded that a marina at Talpona could adversely affect the fishing community especially based at Talpona and Galgibaga, Naik, sought some more days to understand the ramifications of the proposed marina. “But come what may, we will always support the betterment of our locals,” Naik said.
ZP (Poinguinim) Member Daya Pagi was more vocal in his criticism of the proposed marina at Talpona.
“The first step that the government should do is scrap the entire project for the simple reason that it has been conceived without public opinion. Residents have been kept in the dark,” said Pagi.
When reminded that the project had been conceived in 2006 when the Congress government was in power, Pagi retorted, “That is not the reason to continue with the project. If the Congress has erred, this government has to rectify it. The issue was hotly debated at the recent AGKPS meet and members opposed it tooth and nail,” he added.
As the Agonda sarpanch could not be contacted for comments, Agonda panch and Pagi Samaj member Tippu Pagi insisted that the government could not restrict traditional fishing activity in the sea.
“We in the village are opposed to any such hidden agenda of the government,” Pagi told Herald.
Despite repeated efforts, Canacona MLA and Sports Minister Ramesh Tawadkar, who is currently attending the ongoing assembly session, could not be contacted for comments as calls to his mobile remained unanswered.
