MARGAO: Commenting on the Major Port Authorities Bill, 2020 recently passed by the Rajya Sabha Bill on February 11, 2021 which seeks to convert 11 Major Port Trusts into Port authorities including the Mormugao Port Trust (MPT), the Goa Forward Party President, Vijai Sardesai said that the MPT already enjoys a disproportionate jurisdiction of over 300 sq kms on land/water surfaces” and the new bill “risks giving the MPT control of up to 10% further land due under vague definitions of ‘ports limits’ boundaries and ‘conflict’ clauses mentioned in the bill which offer no clarity.”
Sardesai said that “the land, water and other natural resources of Goa belong only to the people of Goa,” and the GFP chief listed out five demands calling for (1) a curtail of the jurisdiction of MPT to the actual required operational area in consultation with ecological stakeholders. (2) Exclude Betul from any possible MPT masterplans. (3) Introduce a state-wide Goa Maritime Board bill to sustainably develop local minor ports and inland waterways. (4) Respect Goa’s history as an ancient maritime trade centre and safeguard its heritage and traditional fishery domains. (5) Restrict Central government inter-reference over local authorities within the ten assembly constituencies affected by the MPT.
Sardesai’s suggestion of a Goa Maritime Board bill would look to administer, regulate and manage the minor ports of Goa without any Central interference. He advised that the Maritime Board would look to protect Goa from river nationalisation. He said “the Maritime Board should only be made up of qualified professional and experts should be equal to those of Gujarat, Maharashtra, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu. Sardesai called for the bill to be brought up in the upcoming budget session.
Sardesai warned of a united opposition to any extension of the jurisdiction of the MPT into state boundaries saying “Team Goa stands firm on this issue, this is non-negotiable to us, and to the people. If the BJP think they can push their limits, Team Goa will draw the line.”
The Fatorda MLA and former deputy CM pointed out that the Centre must alter the MPT port limits in a bid to protect any displacement for traditional fishermen in Mormugao and to save the 363 traditional houses which are under the danger of demolition as they come under the jurisdiction of MPT. Sardesai highlighted that earlier in 2011 and 2017 both former Chief Ministers Digambar Kamat and Manohar Parrikar were both right in opposing any Central interference in Betul which include the Sagarmala project. Vijai Sardesai lambasted the current Chief Minister saying “Sawant has shown no interest in opposing the Sagarmala project but is spinning the idea as a front to bring jobs to locals. The reality is this is all part of the government’s plan to make Goa a coal hub, as the government would seem to benefit from coal transportation at the Sagarmala project.” Sardesai said that “Pramod Sawant should henceforth not be called the Chief Minister anymore, but the Coal Minister of Goa.”
