Team Herald

VASCO: Goa barge owners are optimistic that the 30 percent of their loans would be waived by co-operative banks as promised by former chief minister late Manohar Parrikar.

Addressing a press conference here, the newly elected president of Goa Barge Owner’s Association, William D’Costa said that “the association members are optimistic about the waiver of 30 percent loan waver from co-operative banks which was promised to them by Parrikar.”

D’Costa informed that, a month ago, the association members met and discussed this issue with Chief Minister Pramod Sawant and informed him about the negative impact which is faced by barge owners due to the ban on mining operation. 

He also mentioned that the Goa used to be the place for building barges and before mining ban many people were earning their bread and butter on barge related business. 

“Barge owners in Goa have been put to immense financial problems owing to the stoppage of mining in 2012. The subsequent lifting of the ban brought some temporary relief.  But the off-take of ore was less.  Since February, 2018, the total stoppage of mining and exports has hit the barge owners and has made barge operations totally unviable,” D’Costa said. 

He said that the recently elected executive committee would strive its utmost to address the problems faced by the barge owners.

The new Executive Committee members are: Osric Cabral (vice president), Noel Carvalho (secretary), Rahul Naik (treasurer), Prabhakar S Naik (member), Ramakant Khadapkar (member) and Mayuresh Arolkar (member).