Team Herald
MARGAO: The traditional fishermen from Colva whose huts on the beach could be demolished by the Tourism Department, questioned the priorities of the department.
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It may be recalled that the State government is carrying out a survey to identify and remove all encroachments across the entire stretch of Colva beach, which includes 200-odd traditional huts, which are used by the fishermen’s community for storing nets and canoes and also for drying fish.
The fishermen point to the bad condition of roads in the area and wondered why the tourism department failed to take suo motu action about this given that it reflects badly on Goa’s tourism image.
They added that this has been an issue for years but the authorities seem to be keener on removing their huts from the beach to appease the interest of the hotel and commercial lobby. They lamented that their huts have been at the Colva beach for decades and that their ancestors had used these huts and the trade was passed down from generation to generation.
They added that if the huts are removed, they will be deprived of essential facilities for their livelihoods, which would then lead to major financial losses and a logistical nightmare.
