TEAM HERALD
teamherald@herald-goa.com
PANJIM: Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar on Monday told the State Legislative Assembly that government will request the M/s Goa Shipyard Limited to halt all the ongoing modernization projects and construction of a jetty, till the inquiry into whether permissions from various government authorities have been received was conducted. However, he said they could not issue a stop-work order.
Parrikar assured the house that he would call for a meeting of Collector South and M/s Goa Shipyard Limited on May 2. “We assure that no illegalities would be permitted,” he said, adding “We cannot issue them directions but would request stoppage of the ongoing work for a couple of days till the inquiry by the Collector is conducted.”
The Chief Minister also said that Collector would be directed to call a meeting between M/s Goa Shipyard Limited and the locals to sort out any doubts the locals have on the issue, especially on their right to use the beach.
He was replying to the calling attention motion tabled by Vasco MLA Carlos Almeida who pointed out fear and apprehension in the minds of the people of Vollant Bounter in Vasco over GSL’s move to evict them from their houses by depriving them access to the public beach where they carry out their day-to-day activities to earn their livelihood.
Almeida also brought to the notice of the House that the NOC sought from GCZMA has lapsed and not been revoked.
“Similarly, the permission from Goa State Pollution Control Board has been taken for Survey No 69, while the work is being undertaken on Survey No 63,” he said.
“If that is the case, inquiry into the matter would be conducted,” the Chief Minister assured.
Parrikar said that presently access to the beach was open and there was no obstruction to the people operating their canoes. He said that the GSL has informed the government that there are no plans of depriving the locals of any right over the beach.
