Team Herald
PANJIM: Conceding that barge operators are enduring difficulties, Minister for Ports, Jayesh Salgaocar, has assured to do all that is needed in the interest of the industry.
“The barge owners are facing difficulties. They have contributed to the State in a big way and also created jobs. I extend my support and will do the needful being a part of the government,” he said on the sidelines of a ceremony on the opening of Panjim port for the current season.
His assurance comes in view of the barge owners association claiming that their members are in a difficult situation after the closure of mining operations in 2012.
“We hope that the season goes well. Goan barge owners are in difficulties. We do not know the future holds for us. The fall in the price of iron ore in the international market has affected the iron ore quantum of cargo to be exported,” the association president Raymond De Sa said.
Welcoming the extension of the Debt Relief Scheme for the barge owners till December 31, 2017, the association also appealed to Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar to take steps to direct banks to restructure loans of barge owners and loan repayment terms.
“We appeal to all the exporters to share the business equitably. We also appeal to the CM to stop the coercive action initiated by the banks for recovery and to withdraw the notices issued to the mining affected borrowers, who are not willful defaulters,” he added.
At the time of the mining closure, there were 181 barges loans amounting to Rs 363 crore and last year, the association had loans of Rs 240 crore on 116 barges while now, there are loans on around 63 barges amounting to Rs 166 crore.
“The barge industry in Goa was instrumental in generating employment in the State and it employed 6000 persons directly as crew on barges and further 30,000 persons employed in ancillaries like ports, services, offices, shipyards, etc.
Today with less volume the persons employed in this sector are facing difficulties, both employers and employees,” De Sa said.
