Members of the Goa Barge Owners Association met Captain of Ports Minister Digambar Kamat on Wednesday to highlight the challenges confronting the state’s struggling barge industry.
Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Association President Chandrakant Gawas said they had apprised the minister of key issues including dredging, freight rates, and the lack of business opportunities. “The industry has always supported the government, and now we expect the government to support us in return. The minister listened to our grievances attentively and assured us that appropriate action will be taken,” Gawas said.
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He noted that the barge industry has not recovered since the mining ban imposed in 2012. “The situation is similar for truckers and the machinery sector, which once thrived before the ban. We’re not asking for peak business levels, but at least 20 million tonnes of annual cargo movement would help ensure survival,” he added.
Gawas further expressed concern over the drastic fall in operational barge owners—from 450 in earlier years to just about 30–35 today. “Owners don’t even have funds to repair their barges. The industry is in a critical state,” he said.
