PORVORIM: Reiterating the state will have absolute powers over its rivers, Ports Minister Jayesh Salgaocar on Tuesday tried to shrug –off fears of the Central government taking over all the water-ways in the State.

Salgaocar said the state government has signed the tripartite agreement between Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI), Mormugao Port Trust (MPT) and Captain of Ports (CoP) to take up development of six Goan rivers.

“Let’s stop politicising the issue and get maximum benefit out of this as we will get the funding from Centre for important projects,” he said.

On a reassuring note to the state’s fishermen, Salgaocar said the Centre “cannot control fishing in the rivers and the MOU gives the state “absolute power for everything”.

“Unless the government of Goa says yes to the project, no project can be taken up in the state. Or not even payments can be released to the contractor,” he said.

Salgaocar said it was his party which insisted on the tripartite agreement.

“Earlier it was only IWAI and MPT but we insisted that Captain of Ports be made party to it,” he said.