 "Inland waterways nationalisation: Stakeholders to be taken on board, says Goa govt")
Goa government today allayed fears over the dredging of the state's rivers as part of Centre's nationalisation of inland waterways scheme, saying stakeholders would be taken into confidence before the signing of agreement.
Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar told the State Legislative Assembly that the MoU with the Centre over nationalisation of six rivers in the state is yet to be signed.
"We are yet to sign the MoU. 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 legislator Vijai Sardesai over the nationalisation of inland waterways.
Sardesai had feared that the intensive dredging of the rivers would destroy the bio-diversity, resulting in a "fish-less" Goa.
He said almost all the rivers in the state are notified for nationalisation, due to which the livelihood of fishermen community has come under threat.
The MLA also alleged the scheme has been happening to help the coal importing firms to use the inland waterways, and not to promote the use of rivers for transportation.
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The CM 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.
Parsekar said the MoU with the Centre would be signed only after taking all the stakeholders into confidence.
"The proposal is in preliminary stages. There should not be a concern raised if some water is notified as national waterways," he added.
Central government recently announced that 106 rivers, including six in Goa, which will be taken up for nationalisation.