Waterway nationalisation | Goa to meet stakeholders

The Goa government will soon start consultations with stakeholders over the nationalisation of inland waterways, a senior official has said. ´The department of ports has called a meeting of all the stakeholders next week wherein the draft MoU (memorandum of understanding) on nationalisation of inland waterways would be discussed,´ said Captain of Ports James Braganza. During the recently held Assembly session, Goa Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar had assured that all stakeholders would be consulted before finalising the MoU with the Centre over nationalisation of inland waterways in six important rivers of the state. Braganza said barge owners, trawler operators, traditional fishermen, shipyard owners and others will be taken into confidence during the meeting over the kind of MoU that would be signed with the Centre. The Goa government has already received a draft MoU from the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA).