Goa government’s explanation that the Captain of Ports (CoP) Department will continue to hold rights over dredging of six Rivers that are declared as National Waterways has been refuted by National Alliance of People’s Movements (NAPM) alleging foul play. Several activists and civil society groups from across the country under the umbrella organisation have opposed the project arguing it was an attempt to allow coal transportation in the State. The river nationalisation is nothing but to facilitate coal transportation. The rivers of Goa will have an untimely death if it is allowed, Prafulla Samantara, one of the six activists from across the world to receive the Goldman environmental Prize 2017 said. The organisation held a seminar to highlight concerns of Goan society in the capital on Tuesday. Attended and supported by Goan activists, he NAPM demanded that projects which are not in the welfare of Goan community should be scrapped. The organisation also alleged the upgradation of Mormugao Port Trust was to convert it into a coal hub. The discussion comes in the wake of sustained campaign by several local groups in Vasco opposing coal activity. The Goa government explained consequences if Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) is not signed, a major gain for the State upon signing the agreement ~ valid for a period of five years ~ will be getting back maximum powers to CoP. I assure no PPP project at least in dredging and navigation will happen. Rights over the Rivers are already vested with the IWAI through the Act by Parliament in the year 2016. If MoU with the IWAI is not signed, the powers over the Rivers will remain with the centre as they are already declared as national waterways. We will have to approach the centre for even the smallest permissions like for building jetties or ramp, Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar had said addressing concerns of the public in December 2017. The National Fish workers Forum, also supporting the NAPM, has demanded scrapping of Sagarmala project. Sagarmala plan and all related projects be scrapped immediately for Goa as demanded by not only the fishing communities of Goa but also majority of population in the State, the activists said. The organisation later petitioned the CoP demanding the project’s scrapping. NAPM Convener Madhuresh Kumar referred to another concerning issue on declining agriculture, stating that fields are destroyed on false pretext of development. There was agriculture carried out by indigenous people. In the name of development, it is being destroyed. The activities are not for the people of Goa but for outsiders, he said pointing at usurping of land by non-Goans. The ill effects of casinos, expansion of roads and national highways, double tracking of railway lines, were among various other issues discussed during the day-long session after which the group, which is on All India Tour headed to Karwar. Earlier during the day, the yatris visited Mopa village to express solidarity with the Mopa airport affected people.