Goemkarponn desk
PORVORIM: Opposition MLAs today criticised the state government for not opposing river nationalisation. The opposition was also accused of selling Goa’s rivers.
After Minister Aleixo Sequeira began reading the complete Memorandum of Understanding with the centre regarding the matter, the opposition members became agitated.
The opposition members insisted that the minister be direct and that they be allowed to ask questions. The members returned to their seats after spending some time in the well. Altone D’Costa, a Quepem MLA, stated that “if we cannot save our rivers, we are good for nothing.”
Chief Minister Pramod Sawant countered, saying that the Opposition is in the habit of making allegations.
Opposition MLAs also criticised the government for not opposing river nationalisation, they criticised its justification for ‘Gifting’ the inland waterways. They mentioned that the government mentioned that since the Inland Waterways Act was passed in the Parliament, Goa had no option.
Minister Alex Sequeira said that in 2013, the said proposal was studied and State was the apprehension that the Central Government might interfere in the State affairs and take all the powers under the Central Ministry and the proposal was initially not considered.
“However, Under Article 246 of the Indian Constitution, Parliament has exclusive Legislative power to make laws with respect to any of the matters enumerated in List 1 of the Seventh Schedule of the Constitution. Under this article in list-I, later The National Waterways Act, 2016 declared Six Rivers of Goa as National Waterways.,” said Sequeira
Minister also said that the National Waterways Act enables the mandated Agency i.e. Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) to undertake various developmental works on these National Waterways for facilitating Shipping and Navigation by utilizing the grant/funds received from the Central Government, in compliance with the applicable Coastal Regulation Zone/ Environment Regulations and only with the approval of State Government.
