TEAM HERALD
teamherald@herald-goa.com
PANJIM: A group of villagers have opposed the Government’s plans to renovate the Ribandar jetty opposite the Old Ribandar Hospital and demanded that the government declare the issued tender as null and void.
CCP Corporator of ward 30, Vivina Nasnodkar has already opposed the reconstruction of the jetty to house the Coastal Police at Ribandar. Ribandar villagers are opposed to the jetty, she said.
The CCP has already unanimously rejected the proposal of the coastal security authorities for re-constructing the jetty as it would disturb the sentiments of the villagers and affect the livelihood of the fishing community.
Speaking at a press conference, Adv Jawahar Dias, who has written to the chief minister and other authorities on the issue, has demanded that the government void the order and tender for coastal security jetty on grounds that it has no permission from the local body.
Citing a statement of Union Ministry of Environment and Forests which has made it mandatory for a local panchayat or municipality clearance before giving a MoEF clearance, Dias said that this project which clearly falls in CRZ area, didn’t have a local body clearance and hence should not be taken forward.
In her letter, Nasnodkar asked the government to shift the coastal jetty either to the old Police Outpost at Ribandar or to the right, since both places are unused.
She said the traditional fishermen from Ribandar use this place as an access to the river and senior citizens use it for recreation in the evening.
“The Coastal Police jetty will destroy all the benefits of this place for the villagers of Ribandar,” she said.
