Goa to consult stakeholders on nationalisation of waterways

Panaji, Aug 18 (PTI) Goa government will soon startconsultations with stakeholders over the nationalisation ofinland waterways, a senior official said today. "Department of Ports has called a meeting of all thestakeholders next week wherein the draft MoU onnationalisation of inland waterways would be discussed,"Captain of Ports James Braganza told PTI here. During the recently held Assembly session, Goa ChiefMinister Laxmikant Parsekar had assured that all stakeholderswould be consulted before finalising the MoU with the Centreover nationalisation of inland waterways in six importantrivers of the state. Braganza said barge owners, trawler operators,traditional fishermen, shipyard owners and others will betaken into confidence during the meeting over the kind of MoUthat would be signed with the Centre. Goa government has already received a draft MoU fromNational Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA), which would beworked upon after taking feedback from the stakeholders, hesaid. The Opposition benches had expressed doubts during theAssembly session over nationalisation of waterways as itincludes dredging of rivers. Independent legislator Vijai Sardesai had said thedredging will affect livelihood of the traditional fishermen. Braganza clarified that dredging would be taken up incertain portions of the river, and not the entire basin. "We are always dredging certain parts of the riverwhich is required for smooth navigation," he said. Under a Central government scheme, the state would beprovided with finance to create infrastructure along theinland waterways which will take traffic load off the roads.PTI RPS GK ASVRDS