The State government on Tuesday allayed fears over the nationalisation of inland waterways claiming that stakeholders would be taken into confidence before signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Union Government so as to enable Goa to retain its powers. Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar told the State Legislative Assembly that the Memorandum of Understanding with the Centre over nationalisation of six rivers in the State is yet to be signed and the project is still in the initial stage. We are yet to sign the Memorandum of Understanding. We will take all the precautions during signing of the agreement. No one needs to be panicky, Parsekar said responding to the Calling Attention Motion moved by Independent MLA Vijai Sardesai over the nationalization of inland waterways. The proposal is in preliminary stages. There should not be a concern raised if some river is notified as national waterways, he stated, adding The purpose primarily is to develop waterways namely lighthouses, embankment, jetties and maintenance dredging, he said. Sardesai had feared that the intensive dredging of the rivers would destroy the bio-diversity by which we will have a Fish-less’ Goa. He said almost all the rivers in the State are notified to be nationalised, due to which the livelihood of fishermen community has come under threat. The Independent MLA also alleged that the nationalisation has been happening to help the coal importing firms to use the inland waterways, and not to promote the use of rivers for transportation. Earlier, the Goan waterways were looked as highway for iron ore transport. Now it is looked as highway for coal transport, he alleged. The move is to facilitate coal transport by creating a hub, Sardessai charged. Clarifying on the issue, Parsekar said it is maintenance and not capital dredging of the rivers that would be taken up, so there is no fear for bio-diversity and fish production. It is only maintenance dredging as and when required for safe navigation will be permitted and that too after an Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) study is conducted, so that bio-diversity and fishing is not affected, he explained. The Inland Waterways Authority of India of Union Ministry for Shipping has identified six rivers of Goa as national waterways and has mentioned that these are best in the country and will be emulated elsewhere in the country especially in the North-Eastern states where improper regulations and unsafe practices exist, Parsekar said. The motion was strongly supported by the opposition benches, while the ruling panel supported the move of nationalization but demanded that government need proper precautions. Leader of Opposition Pratapsingh Rane sought a white paper from the government over the nationalisation of waterways to clear the doubt of the locals. BJP MLA Michael Lobo said, All six rivers are lifeline of Goa’s fishermen community and this section is more concerned about the issue. All fishermen should be consulted; these people are totally dependent on these rivers. There should be meeting of central minister and bureaucrats to explain the profits and losses to the people, Lobo said. Congress MLA Pandurang Madkaikar said that the entire fishing community is residing on the banks of these six rivers and questioned as to what would be their fate?
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