From Rubiya Shaikh
Daijiworld Media Network - Panaji
 
Panaji, Sep 30: Goa's tourism industry is wary of Mormugao Port Trust's (MPT) expansion plan of creating national port terminal infrastructure which is spreading over state's touristic spots.

"The MPT through different notifications have claimed their stake over waterfront and land in south goa's major tourist areas. We will move to the centre seeking to de-notify this area as it covers places of tourist importance," state port minister Fransisco Pacheco told reporters here.

Goa which has been lobbying to regain the hold over these lands convened high level meeting headed by Chief Minister Digamber Kamat and attended by various state ministers.

The meet resolved to approach Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh, Minister for shipping, road transport and highways T R Balu and United Progressive Alliance Chairman Sonia Gandhi.

"Without taking state government into confidence, the MPT has claimed its right over certain beach fronts through notifications which were issued in the years 1962, 1974, 1995 and 2000," Pacheco alleged.

Pacheco, who also holds tourism portfolio said that such an acquisition would eat into tourism pie as beaches of Arossim, utorda and fishing hub of Betul is covered under their jurisdiction.

Citing the recent advertisement in the local newspaper released by MPT, which speaks of creating National Port Terminal Infrastructure, the minister said that such infrastructure would naturally have constructions on the land in the tourism spots.

"Whatever MPT has done is without taking Goa government into confidence. The acquisition was unilateral and state government's then did not object to it," he said.

The MPT intends to built infrastructure in the form of bulk cargo handling facilities, shipbuilding facilities, cruise terminal, non cargo shipping terminal, ship repair facility, ferry terminus and others.