Presentation on ecological damage being prepared

NT NETWORK
Posted on 2008-10-03
PANAJI - The Chief Minister, Mr Digambar Kamat said that a presentation is currently being prepared by experts as regards the damage, which would be caused to the state environment and tourism by the proposed national port terminal infrastructure of the Mormugao Port Trust.
“The presentation will assist the state delegation which will soon leave for New Delhi to meet the Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh, the chairperson of the United Progressive Alliance, Ms Sonia Gandhi and the Union Minister for Shipping, Road Transport and Highways, Mr T R Baalu for discussing the particular issue with them,” he added. Speaking to ‘The Navhind Times’ on Thursday morning, Mr Kamat said that once the presentation is ready, it would initially be shown to the concerned cabinet ministers and government officials, besides representatives of the major political parties in the state. “We will also have an all party deliberation on the issue, at this occasion,” he maintained. The delegation, which will leave for Delhi would be led by the Chief Minister and is expected to include the Minister for Tourism and Ports, Minister for Environment and the Chief Secretary among others.
It may be recalled that the MPT has already issued a global Expression of Interest for national port terminal infrastructure, for creation of bulk cargo handling facilities, ship building facilities, cruise terminals, non-cargo shipping terminals, marinas, dry docks, graving docks, ship repair facilities, barge repair, barge base, ferry terminals, etc, on the Zuari waterfront and/or land West of Cortalim bridge, and other water and land areas falling within the MPT notified limits. The last date to convey the EoI by the interested parties is November 29, 2008.
The government is also in the process of getting all the four notifications de-notified, which were issued by the central government in the year 1962, 1974, 1995 and 2000, resulting increase in the jurisdiction of Mormugao Port Trust substantially, from Dona Paula in the North and Cansaulim/Arossim in the South. A high-level ministerial meeting headed by the Chief Minister, Mr Digambar Kamat was held last month to deliberate on this matter.