Goa’s port in turf war over coastal land claims

Goa’s state administration and Mormugao Port Trust which runs its lone port have got into a turf war over territory — both in the sea along this littoral state and over land the MPT claims control over. The immediate provocation for the wrangle came when MPT in a series of local media adverts, claimed it had jurisdiction over waters around the port and a considerable ocean water area far south of the port in Betul. This goes abutting a coastline lined by a series of luxury resorts. Claiming that a notification in the year 2000 had given it further jurisdiction, the port advert notified that all jetties, and developments in the area required MPT’s go ahead.

Coming as it did after the state administration was examining its legal position for locating off shore casinos, the MPT advert was the proverbial red flag to an administration already reeling under citizens’ objections to casino boats on rivers.

Escalating disenchantment to the casinos running along river side quays had thrown up the option of putting them offshore, while ferrying punters by speed boat. The administration was set to pick Rs 25 crore (Rs 250 million) in annual fees from the five boats, in addition to other taxes.<br

MPT’s claims — made public at this juncture and seen as a move to elbow in — has only angered the state goverment. A cabinet meeting last week took up the matter and set up a special committee to examine MPT’s claims. “Under no circumstances should the port trust impinge on our state rights”, said chief minister Digamber Kamat.

The state has powers over its territorial waters and would assert its rights, Mr Kamat said. To add its own measure of pressure on MPT, the committee would also reexamine MPT’s leasehold lands in the state.

Going on the offensive, Mr Kamat said “all the land in possession of MPT is government land. We will examine the terms of the lease and check if payments are being made”.

Stepping up the pressure on MPT, Goa finance minister Dayanand Narvekar told this correspondent that the committee would look at all the land holdings the MPT is claiming jurisdiction over.

The hundred year old Mormugao port was developed further in 1963 and came under the major port trust act, when iron ore exports picked up in the state. As a single commodity port, handling iron ore, the port has since marginally diversified. The current row marks its firstmajor run-in with the state government in recent years.

MPT officials were unavailable for comment. Its claim to ocean jurisdiction over the Betul area could however be contested, knowledgebale sources said.

This area was once included because of erstwhile ore movement that has since stopped. State authorities could technically petition central ministry for reconsideration of this area, sources said.

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Tags: news, land issues