TEAM HERALD
If you enjoyed reading this article, you can help support our journalism by adding OHeraldo as a preferred source.
MARGAO: District Collector N D Agrawal on Thursday appointed a surveyor to check the ground reality in respect of the modernization projects and construction of a jetty undertaken by Goa Shipyard Limited in Vasco.
The decision was taken based after a meeting chaired by the district Collector and attended by representatives of Goa Shipyard Ltd and the people of Vollant Bounter in the district Collectorate here on Thursday.
The meeting was convened following instructions from the Chief Minister to the district collector after the issue came up in the Legislative Assembly earlier this week.
During the meeting, a delegation of the agitating residents drew attention of the Collector to the ongoing activities such as dredging, piling, blocking of traditional access of the fishermen by Goa Shipyard Ltd. They pointed out that the locals are being threatened by the officials on the ground they have trespassed into the area and are not allowed to anchor their fishing boats.
After hearing both the parties, the district collector said that he would appoint a surveyor in a day or two to check the ongoing activities, with a direction to submit the report at the earliest.
The second round of meeting is scheduled in the district collectorate on May 8 to review the situation and take a decision based on the surveyor’s report.
The issue over the expansion activities of Goa Shipyard and the construction of a jetty was raised in the Goa Legislative Assembly by Vasco MLA Carlos Almeida, who drew attention of the House to the fear and apprehensions of the people of Vollant Bounter. He had stated that the people are living in fear that they will be evicted from their houses by depriving them access to the public beach and carry out their day-to-day activities.
