This article appeared in the Herald today in the Opinion section. Take a look at the final paragraph.
Since port activities take place within the confines of MPT’s notified limits on the southern bank of the Zuari River, in an area which is closest to the open sea and away from the beaches of Goa, there is absolutely no fear of any expansion projects affecting the tourism industry in any way. On the contrary, a ferry hub within MPT connecting with Dona Paula, Miramar, CoP Jetty and Aguada in the North, as well as Colva, Arossim and even Canacona in the South, will be a great boon for the citizens of Goa. Joao asks: How will it be a great boon to the citizens of Goa? Will people now be able to travel to the beaches by the hundreds and ogle the women sunbathing on the isolated sands? Is having clean and beautiful beaches bad for the citizens of Goa and tourism? Will the villages want this kind of development? And what about the hotels? Will they want it, too. *Goa benefits from expansion of MPT port facilities *Expansion of Mormugao Port will have no adverse effects on Goa, says MPT Chairman *PRAVEEN AGARWAL, IRS* It is now crystal clear that the expansion of the Mormugao Port Trust (MPT) and augmentation of port facilities like a Passenger Cruise Terminal, a second Iron Ore Export Terminal, a Liquid Cargo Handling Berth etc, will lead to widespread benefits to Goa’s trade, commerce and industry. It will also provide substantial spin-offs for the state’s residents, without any adverse impact on the tourism industry and related activities, or on the biodiversity and ecology of the inland waterways and the coastline. MPT has made it absolutely clear that not even an inch of land belonging to the state government or to private parties will be needed for these projects, which are absolutely necessary for the future of trade and commerce in this region. There is a misconception that large quantities of land will be required for MPT’s proposed expansion plans. But the port has repeatedly demonstrated that the land requirements of these projects will be met by reclaiming a small portion of the water area within MPT’s notified limits, and that only land belonging to the port will be used. Any such reclamation will be carried out only after obtaining the necessary Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) clearance from the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF), New Delhi, as well as from the Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority (GCZMA). Another misconception plaguing the minds of some people is that MPT’s expansion will lead to displacement of the local population and creation of slums. This is not true. MPT is embarking on a path of planned development; each of its projects will be implemented only after obtaining comprehensive EIA clearances, which may include public hearings. Since there is no acquisition of land – government or private – there is no question of displacement of population. MPT has proposed the rehabilitation and relocation of the Khariwado slum dwellers, who are encroachers on MPT land and are therefore governed by the Public Premises (Eviction of Unauthorized Occupants) Act, 1971. Even though most of these encroachers have no legitimate right to compensation or rehabilitation, MPT has gone out of its way to offer 90 sq metres of developed land to each family at Adarshnagar. Though the market value of each such plot is easily around Rs10 lakh, MPT has offered this land free of cost to those being asked to move from Kharivado. Further, MPT has even agreed to bear the cost of rehabilitation and relocation under the Integrated Housing and Slum Development Programme (IHSDP) of the JNNURM. The total financial liability of this project will be approximately Rs10 crore for MPT. The rehabilitation of the Khariwado slum dwellers to Adarshnagar will, in fact, result in clearance of one of the main slums of Vasco city. Rehabilitation will lead to a significant improvement in the quality of life of the Khariwado slum dwellers, as the IHSDP Projects have Primary Health Centre (PHC), recreation hall, playground and other facilities at the rehabilitation area. The rich biodiversity of the Zuari river waterfront as well as the coastline within notified port limits is continuously monitored and maintained by MPT. The existence of a major port on the Goa coastline ensures that the state is well equipped with a Disaster Management Plan, as well as with necessary equipment required for mitigating the ill effects of oil spills and other forms of pollutants, which can harm water bodies. MPT employs a large workforce of approximately 3,000, of which more than 400 are women. The majority of MPT employees are Goan. Since all of MPT’s expansion projects are mechanised facilities that have to be executed in the public-private partnership (PPP) model, a very limited number of additional personnel would be deployed at the new facilities. Most of the additional manpower will have to be residents of Goa, provided they are duly qualified. MPT’s new projects, therefore, will not bring about any change in the demographic pattern of Goa. On the contrary, the state’s demographic composition is more adversely affected by tourism-related activities, which require a large influx of migrants of all categories, especially during the tourist season. MPT’s proposed expansion projects mainly concern improvement and development of vital infrastructure like a Cruise Terminal, an Iron Ore Terminal, a Liquid Cargo Terminal, ship building and repair facilities, marinas, barge building and repairs, ferry services, etc. They are all designed, planned, synchronised and harmonised with the local requirement of the hinterland in which the port is located. The additional facilities will necessarily cater to the needs of local trade and commerce. Otherwise, the new facilities will not be viable. A Cruise Terminal, for example, is badly required for promoting tourism in Goa. The second Iron Ore Terminal is required for safe and efficient handling of Goan ore, which is otherwise presently handled in unsafe open sea conditions. Marinas are needed for promoting leisure and adventure tourism in Goa. Barge repair and ship repair facilities are required to support the huge barge industry in the state. A Liquid Cargo Terminal is needed for the energy and transport requirements of the state. Ferry points will serve Goa’s residents. The new four-lane road up to Mormugao Harbour will be used more by the citizens of Goa than by the port. Doubling of the railway line between Hospet and Vasco will also ensure better and more frequent passenger train services to and from Goa. All the projects have been designed keeping in view only the local requirements. MPT has also proposed relocation of the Khariwado Fishing Jetty to a permanent alternate location outside of Vasco Bay, but within the notified limits of the Port. MPT has agreed to bear the entire cost of construction of the new world class fishing jetty in conjunction with the central government. The new jetty will have a sorting yard, an ice water plant, space for mending and repair of nets, vessel repair facilities, adequate land area, proper road connectivity and, most importantly, a safe and tranquil mooring basin for fishing boats. The new fish landing centre and harbour will greatly facilitate operation of modern and larger fishing boats than the ones being used by the fishermen at present. This will lead to a significant increase in catch. MPT has repeatedly pointed out that the Khariwado fishermen will need to shift to the new jetty only after it becomes fully operational. There will be no adverse impact on the livelihood of the fishermen with the proposed relocation to the new site, which will have far superior facilities to the existing Khariwado Fishing jetty. Since port activities take place within the confines of MPT’s notified limits on the southern bank of the Zuari River, in an area which is closest to the open sea and away from the beaches of Goa, there is absolutely no fear of any expansion projects affecting the tourism industry in any way. On the contrary, a ferry hub within MPT connecting with Dona Paula, Miramar, CoP Jetty and Aguada in the North, as well as Colva, Arossim and even Canacona in the South, will be a great boon for the citizens of Goa.
