From the time of its inception and its growth, MPT and Vasco have been synonymous and when people said MPT is Vasco and Vasco is MPT, it reflected the towns and the taluka’s symbiotic relationship with its port which became the town’s identity as a “port town”.
MPT also provides incomes and livelihoods and is the epicentre of professional life, along with other vital central installations and facilities.
But the happy umbilical cord between the people and their port appears to have snapped. The relationship of relevance and affection which the people had to their port is tottering on the verge of animosity and distrust.
The ultimate flashpoint was the recent public hearing for the proposed port expansion plans where MPT remained marred in controversies. Even before scars of the face-off with locals amidst the latter’s strong protests against the expansion plans of the port faded, a fresh cause of attrition has surfaced. The cause of the conflict is the port trust issuing eviction notices to 50-odd residents from Headland, Sada having their structures in the land claimed by the MPT.
The irony here is that after Chairman I Jeyakumar took over control of port affairs, he made his intention very clear that ‘MPT is with the people and wants to support the local population’. His pro-people stand on supporting the proposed de-notification of NH17, a road connecting the port from Cortalim via Chicalim, in order to save several families living on the earning of bars and restaurants business, was a very pleasant surprise for the people.
Similarly, MPT changed its plans and suspended Betul port proposal and started looking for option of new port at Vijaydurg in Maharashtra. Likewise the issue of Khariwado jetty and structures which was one of the main reasons of conflict between locals was also resolved amicably.
From discouraging dirty cargo like gypsum to encouraging its transporters on use of night hours for transporting cargo from port, Jeyakumar took steps to make MPT- locals ties stronger.
However, despite all this, environmental conflicts started and even got aggravated during the recently concluded public hearing for proposed expansions project. This peaked when MPT, on one of the days of the public hearing, reportedly stated that it is not locals but “outsiders” who were objecting to the port expansion plans. This led to a massive backlash of anger and hurt since the opposition to the expansion plans for environmental reasons, was lead by locals and supported by all of Goa.
“MPT also took the first step to build the confidence in people, but one statement of MPT spoiled the tempo which was building and this actually sent wrong signal to the public. I wish MPT had clarified,” said Vasco-based Advocate Dileshwar Naik.
And then from MPT’s point of view, their run of bad luck continued. The Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB) through its annual report (2016-17) certified MPT as the most polluted area in Goa.
Citizens who have been opposing port expansion plans got another tool to strongly oppose proposed projects as well as the present handling of coal cargo in port.
While the GSPCB’s report was most untimely, as far as MPT is concerned, some of its own actions have widened the chasm between port and people. A case is point being eviction notices issued to 50 families having their structures on the land which MPT claims as port property.
People served these notices now allege that MPT has targeted the residents due to the local’s aggressive battle against the pollution by port. “All these years, we were eating coal dust but remained quiet because the land on which our ancestors had built houses was handed over to the MPT after Liberation. Now suddenly MPT wants to evict us without any reasons”, said a local resident of Headland Sada under condition of anonymity.
But all hope isn’t lost. The town of Vasco is waiting for bridges to be built and the Chairman of MPT, who they still feel, wants to work with the town folk, will respond.
