Team Herald
PANJIM: The proposed passenger jetty at Vasco Bay-Mormugao Port by the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways (MoPSW) has come under severe criticism by environmentalists and activists.
The reactions emerged shortly after the ministry tweeted “a passenger jetty at Vasco Bay-Mormugao Port will be developed with a total cost of Rs 21 crore. This will encourage Ro-Ro and Ro-Pax service, enhance tourism and reduce road traffic.”
It further mentioned that this was a part of the flagship programme “Sagarmala” working towards “boosting inland waterways”.
The proposed jetty will be built in Vasco Bay even as the Mormugao Port Authorities (MPA) appeared unaware about it.
When contacted, MPA Deputy Chairman G P Rai said that he was not aware of any such proposal by the Ministry of Ports, Shipping, and Waterways. However, sources said that the passenger jetty is being built at the earlier floating dry dock in Vasco Bay.
Reacting to the Ministry’s decision Sherwyn Correia, an environmentalist from Vasco said, “We need to have more specifics about the proposal. If it’s only for Ro-Ro and Ro-Pax that would benefit Vascokars, it’s fine. However, as a long-time MPA watcher, I wouldn’t take anything they say at face value. If it were to be in Vasco (Kharewaddo) Bay, I would construe it as yet another attempt by MPA to expand into the bay area by displacing the traditional fisher and coastal communities occupying it for centuries. Their displacement and livelihoods would have to be addressed. Nonetheless, I would prefer to wait and watch for further details.”
Chicalim Villagers Action Committee (CVAC) Secretary Rui M Da Costa Araujo however had a conditional pro-jetty view, with a bit of suspicion. He said that passenger jetty would attract high end-tourists and would be welcome but as long as the government takes care of the traditional fishermen and the fishing activities are not hampered.
However, he also said, “There should be a public hearing to sort out this issue and hoped that it will not be a back door entry for the transportation of coal by sea. I am also surprised that the government has this huge amount to spend on such projects.”
Goenchea Ramponkarancho Ekvott (GRE) general secretary Olencio Simoes said, “The master plan for MPA’s Sagarmala plans for Goa in 2016 states exactly this. All nationalised rivers jetties will be constructed for coal and it’s not for tourism, they said it’s for double tracking too they said it’s for passengers, but now they accept it and are now saying it’s for coal.”
Simoes said that 141 million metric tonnes per annum require rail, road, and rivers for the transportation of coal to northern Karnataka steel units. State resources are sold to crony capitalists and this will have a cascading effect on the State.