Goa wants centre to restructure MPT jurisdiction
PTI, PANAJI | 29 July 2011 20:20 IST
Goa government has decided to approach the Union Ministry of Shipping to re-draw the jurisdiction of Mormugao Port Trust (MPT), Chief Minister Digambar Kamat said today.
Kamat said that MPT, whose jurisdiction was defined in the year 1961, has now claimed inland waters and other areas as its territories which is not acceptable to the state government.
Goa government has decided to file a petition with Union Ministry of Shipping to redraw the jurisdiction of the port trust at Vasco.
Kamat said the issue never cropped up all these years till MPT management, since last year, started issuing notices to people living in the jurisdiction marked by it.
"We want that the MPT jurisdiction should be limited to port areas and rest of the inland water should be made available to the state for development of minor ports," the chief minister said.
Goa is in dire needs of a cruise terminal, a berth that one can be used by cruise line and their ships to transit for day calls or even overnight. A port that is easily accessible and conveniently located to passengers to do day trips, shopping and be entertained with the many things that Goa has in store to offer.
Many talks and media coverages have been posted in the past where it was mentioned that there will be a Dona Paula jetty would be built but yet has to see the day-light. A cruise terminal of port facility should be under the jurisdiction of the tourism department of Goa and not the central government as it is currently with MPT.
Having been around the world and managed deployments in various parts of the world, I have seen cities, villages, townships flair and prosper by the business contribution of the Cruise Lines.
This is just food for thought and I hope some consideration will be given to future cruise lines that visit our beautiful Goa.
Adrian Fernandes.