Poinguinim: Reassuring locals that the proposed satellite port at Betul had been shelved, deputy chief minister Chandrakant ‘Babu’ Kavlekar said that all that remained is for the site to be denotified. Speaking on Sunday at Betul, Kavlekar said that he has discussed the issue with chief minister Pramod Sawant who has promised him that the government will follow up with the authorities to get the Betul satellite port project denotified.
Kavlekar was speaking after unveiling the foundation stone for the retaining wall along River Sal. Mormugao Port Trust (MPT) had temporarily shelved the Betul port plan in 2017 due to protests. The final decision was taken in 2020 after discussions with the Union ministry of shipping and the state government, and after considering the adverse financial implications.
After unveiling the plaque, Kavlekar said that he has taken up the matter about the port with Sawant, who has immediately asked the Captain of Ports to issue the necessary directions. “Only the notification remains and that will be followed up by me,” Kavlekar said.
In June 2016, Union minister of shipping Nitin Gadkari had announced that a satellite port would come up about 35km from MPT and it would be jointly developed with the Goa government. The Centre wanted around 150-200 acre to develop the satellite port at Betul but the move was objected to by locals. The satellite port was being built to handle bauxite and other cargo.
Water resources minister Felipe Neri Rodrigues, who was also present, said the wall is being built to stop the steady erosion of the banks of River Sal, which is posing danger to old houses.
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