Team Herald
NEW DELHI: The Mormugao Port Trust is exploring expansion of its infrastructure at Betul in South Goa and the Goa Government has been approached to allot 107.10 acres of land for the purpose. Minister of State for Shipping Mansukh Mandaviya disclosed this in a written reply to Congress MP Shantaram Naik in the Rajya Sabha on Monday.
He said neither social impact study has been carried out for the project nor the Centre’s statutory clearances obtained for it. “The project is in exploratory stage. After the land allotment by Government of Goa and due approvals from the Central Government, this exercise will be underaken.
Projects not yet ready: Specific stretches of six rivers in Goa, including Mandovi, Zuari and Cumberjua whose detailed project reports (DPTs) are ready, figure among 106 new waterways declared as the national waterways under the National Waterways Act.
Three other rivers whose detailed project reports have been awarded for preparation are Chapora, Mapusa and Sai.
Asked if land is be acquired along the banks of the rivers, Minister of State for Shipping Mansukh L Mandaviya told Congress member Shantaram Naik in a written reply that requirement of land, constructions and funds would be known only after finalisation of the DPRs.
The only movement in the development of the national waterways in Goa so far is a memorandum signed by the Inland Waterways Authority of India) with the Mormugo Port Trust, the minister said pointing out that the expenditure on it will be met from the budgetary support, extra budgetary resources such as bond and funds from the Goa Government and the Mormugo Port Trust.
On Naik wanting to know about names of the private companies with whom negotiations are being worked out for development of the rivers, the minister said there is no such proposal under consideraion at present.
