PANJIM: Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar has hailed the Centre’s approval of funds for development of 24 shortlisted rivers that include two rivers in Goa. Parrikar took to Twitter stating this would benefit Goa. “Earmarking 2.5% of CRF for development of waterways, as approved by Union Cabinet chaired by PM Narendra Modi, will immensely benefit Goa,” he said.
The Union government on Wednesday approved allocation of 2.5 percent of the Central Road Fund for national waterways that would result in about Rs 2000 crore proceeds per annum for their development.
The Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) has planned to undertake work on the development of 24 national waterways during the next three years, and this includes Chapora and Mapusa-Moide rivers. Parrikar stated, “Thanks to Nitin Gadkari, Union Government prioritises the NWs development across Chapora and Mapusa rivers in Goa.” His next tweet reads, “The decision of the Union Government presents a great opportunity for Goa to move towards affordable & efficient modes of transport.”
Parliament last year had enacted the National Waterways Act, 2016, for developing and maintaining the existing five NWs and 106 new NWs across the country. The State government recently allayed apprehensions that the order will transfer Goa government’s rights to the Centre. Herald was the first to report that a draft Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) does not restrict the rights of state governments in anyway. The MoU between IWAI, State government and the Mormugao Port Trust (MPT), for the development of waterways in Goa, states that the Centre will not infringe upon the State’s rights on minerals and water. The rights over the waters of all the rivers, the river beds, the river banks, existing infrastructure and the riverine land will be vested with the Goa Captain of Ports as before.
Six rivers – Mandovi from Usgao bridge to the confluence of the river with Arabian Sea at Reis Magos (covering 41 kms), Zuari from Sanvordem bridge to Mormugao port (50 kms), Cumbarjua canal from the confluence of Cumbarjua and Zuari river near Cortalim ferry terminal to the confluence of Cumbarjua and Mandovi river near Sao Martias Vidhan Parishad (17 km), Chapora from the bridge at State highway number 124 to the confluence of Chapora river with Arabia Sea at Morjim (33 km), Mapusa from the bridge on NH-17 at Mapusa to the confluence point of Mapusa and Mandovi river at Porvorim (27 km) and Sal from Orlim-Deusa bridge to the confluence with the Arabian Sea at Mobor (14 km) were amongst 106 rivers across the country to be declared as national waterways.
