ICI Symposium on Sea link
Dr. Jen Lewis
http://www.navhindtimes.in/news/goa-news/8468-govt-to-soon-finalise-consultant-for-sea-link
PANAJI: The Chief Minister, Mr Digambar Kamat on Tuesday said that the government will shortly take a decision on appointing a consultant to study all aspects of the proposed Panaji-Dona Paula sea link project.
He said that bids were invited from interested parties and that the government has shortlisted a few names. Justifying the reason to appoint a consultant in this project, he said that when the government decided about the project it had no idea on how to go about it as it had no data on the same.
Mr Kamat was speaking at the valedictory function of a symposium on the proposed sea link, organised by the Goa bench of the Indian Concrete Institute at Dona Paula on Tuesday evening. He said the consultant will study all aspects of the proposed sea link including the economic feasibility, environmental impact etc. He also said that the government will have to decide on whether to follow the public-private partnership mode or seek funds from the Planning Commission.
The Chief Minister informed that the sea link project has got support from the Centre and that the Union Finance Minister, Mr Pranab Mukherjee has assured all help to the project and also added that the deputy chairman of the Planning Commission, Mr Montek Singh Ahluwalia has also offered the services of technical advisor of the Planning Commission. He further said that the Centre has asked the state to try and join the sea link to the national highway to make it beneficial for the industry.
Mr Kamat said every state in the country is looking to concentrate on developing infrastructure. He said there is tremendous stress on the existing infrastructure in the state keeping in view the floating population of tourists that visit the state. He also informed that the Planning Commission has suggested that the state concentrate on creating infrastructure and also on making Goa an educational hub.
The Chief Minister reassured the people that they have nothing to worry as the government is not in a hurry on the proposed sea link project and that the government will go ahead only if the project is economically viable. With regard to the Zuari bridge, Mr Kamat said at present a model for a new bridge has been prepared by the National Highways Authority of India.
Earlier, the joint secretary, finance, Mr Anupam Kishore speaking at the symposium said if the state has good infrastructure there will be good investment flow in the state. He said that the proposed sea link will connect Panaji to the harbour, railway station and the airport, however, economic viability of the project has to be studied. He further said the sea link would boost tourism and also lead to industrial development in the state.
After the creation of a data base following appointment of consultant, the government will go to the people with regard to the sea link project, said Mr Kishore adding that as of now the project is just a proposal on paper. He said that the project has created immense interest among the international community with seven global companies sending their bids. He said that parties from Spain, Germany and even Singapore have shown interest in this project.
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GCCI flays govt for not taking it into confidence
http://www.navhindtimes.in/news/goa-news/8467-gcci-flays-govt-for-not-taking-it-into-confidence
PANAJI: The Goa Chamber of Commerce and Industry on Tuesday came down heavily on the government for not taking it into confidence while announcing the sea link project, to connect Panaji and Mormugao and asked the government to develop other infrastructure in the state before taking up similar projects.
Speaking at the symposium, on the proposed sea link project at Dona Paula, organised by the Goa bench of the Indian Concrete Institute, Mr Blaise Costabir, EC member of GCCI said that the industry was surprised when the government announced the project as it was not taken into confidence.
Mr Costabir further said secondly, this project didn’t feature in the Regional Plan 2021 and added that it could face opposition from the people due to the lack of their participation in deciding about the project. He also questioned how the sea link would help tourism in Goa as the state attracts tourists because of its natural beauty and not manmade structures.
Pointing out that the government should look to develop necessary infrastructure including construction of Zuari bridge, highway alignment etc before taking up projects like the sea link, he said linking Dona Paula with the harbour will create traffic congestion in Panaji as all the traffic will enter the city, hence a proper traffic mapping has to be done.
Suggesting government to take up other projects like river navigation, doubling of Konkan Railway track and the Siridao sea link, he however, said that the sea link at Siridao could raise dispute as its an eco- sensitive zone.
The government should take people into confidence and then spend money on the consultant, remarked Mr Costabir and added that the money used in this project could be used to develop other infrastructure in the state.
Dr A C Anil, from NIO, speaking on the possible environmental impact of the project, said that the sea link could possibly lead to change in the topography of the sea as a result of sedimentation.
Dr Anil further said similar changes are visible in the Mandovi estuary, where the water flow has changed.
He also said that this could affect the fishing pattern due to change in the Benthic ecology, movement of migratory fish and movement of birds and dolphins.
Speaking on the topic, Mr G N Nayal of Goa University questioned the need for the project and added that a detailed environmental assessment needs to be carried out.
He further said that a detailed report on impact on marine life should also be carried out adding the government needs to address the environmental problems due to mining, vehicular pollution besides problems
like solid waste management, CRZ and ICZM
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Proposed Sea-Link Should have Road Linkages: GCCI
PANAJI | SEP 11, 2009
http://news.outlookindia.com/item.aspx?665947
Goa's apex industrial body Goa Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) has said that proposed sea-link connecting Panaji city with port town of Vasco through Arabian sea will serve no purpose without road linkages.
"Such a project without any forward and backward road linkages will not serve any purpose," the GCCI has said.
In a memorandum submitted to Goa Chief Minister Digamber Kamat, the Chamber has said that the idea of sea link is good but the government needs to spell out the complete concept of the project.
The State government in the budget tabled on July 24 in the State Legislative Assembly had proposed the ambitious project for construction of a bridge across the Arabian sea connecting Dona Paula, a tail end of Panaji city, to Vasco.
Chief Minister Digamber Kamat had said that the government will avail the crucial 20 per cent of the project cost in the form of viability gap fund (VGF) from the Centre.
Goa had made a provision of Rs 100 crore for the project in the budget.
The GCCI in its post-budget memorandum has said that cost benefit ratio of the project should be studied in depth before investing huge funds.
"Government should utilise the public private partnership (PPP) mode to upgrade our river navigation system with regular dredging, construct more jetties and introduce point to launch service so that the strain on our roads is reduced," GCCI has said.
The Chamber has also suggested that instead of connecting Dona Paula to Vasco, the bridge should connect Chicalim to Bambolim, which can be utilised by majority of the traffic on the highway.
http://www.tunneltalk.com/Panaji-Vasco-sea-link-Oct09-Consultants-for-Panaji-Vasco-sea-link.php
http://www.tunneltalk.com/images/Panaji-Vasco/BidDoc.pdf