No MoU with Centre on waterways yet

PORVORIM: Chief minister Laxmikant Parsekar told the assembly on Tuesday that a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to be signed with Centre on the inclusion of Goa’s waters into national waterways is yet to be agreed on.
Parsekar clarified the government’s stand while replying to a Calling Attention moved by independent Fatorda MLA Vijai Sardesai.
Sardesai said the Centre’s decision of making six rivers of Goa a part the national waterways will spell doom for the riverine ecosystem of the state.The resultant extensive dredging, Sardesai said, poses a serious threat to the fishing community. “I visualize a fishless Goa,” he said.
The declaration of Goa’s rivers as national waterways, Sardesai said, is to encourage shipping. “Only two persons, Adani (Gautam Adani) and Jindal (Naveen Jindal) will benefit,” Sardesai said.
Parsekar said the MoU will be drafted after taking all the stakeholders in the state into confidence so as to enable the state to retain its powers.
Parsekar further said the purpose of including Goa’s waters into the national waters is primarily to develop waterways. Lighthouses, embankment, jetties will be built and developed, and maintenance dredging carried out. The state will receive funds from the Centre through the Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI), ministry of shipping.
Legislators from the ruling as opposition benches expressed concern about declaring Goa’s waters as national waterways, and consequent loss of control over its waters.