Panaji (Goa): As promised by Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar, Government will make the memorandum of understanding (MOU) to be signed with the Centre on nationalization of rivers public on Monday.

The presentation will be made before MLAs, both ruling and opposition, the non-government organizations (NGOs) and social activities, who had raised their concern and objections to the project on Monday at Institute Menezes Braganza (IMB) at 10 am.

Six rivers from Goa- Chapora, Cumbarjua, Mandovi, Mapusa, Sal and Zuari are proposed for development under nationalization.

Parrikar has assured the people of the State that even after nationalisation of waterways; the operational powers will be vested with the State government. 

However, there is strong opposition to the nationalization project, with NGOs and villagers claiming that traditional fishermen and those dependent on rivers would lose authority over the water bodies. They also alleged that the entire plan is to facilitate transportation of coal.

The MOU will be signed between the Inland Waterways Authority (IWAI), Goa Government and Mormugao Port Trust.