21 Feb 2018 | 05:33am IST
Palyekar grilled over nexus between fishermen and agents
PORVORIM: MLAs from the ruling and opposition benches on Tuesday grilled Fisheries Minister Vinod Palyekar over the failure of the department to control illegal and uncontrolled functioning of fishermen societies at Cutbona jetty in Velim constituency and the growing nexus between the fishermen and agents resulting in skyrocketing fish prices.
PORVORIM: MLAs from the ruling and opposition benches on Tuesday grilled Fisheries Minister Vinod Palyekar over the failure of the department to control illegal and uncontrolled functioning of fishermen societies at Cutbona jetty in Velim constituency and the growing nexus between the fishermen and agents resulting in skyrocketing fish prices.
The Minister, who initially failed to give a satisfactory reply to the series of questions posed by the MLAs, later assured the House to have proper monitoring at the jetty.
During the Question Hour, BJP MLA Nilesh Cabral brought to the notice of the House that Cutbona Boat Owners Development Society is operating illegally at the jetty and that Fisheries Department has failed to initiate any action. He demanded that the society be immediately asked to stop operations.
To this, the Minister declined to admit that the society is operational illegally and said, “The Registration Certificate is not renewed by the society and hence the Department has asked the society to renew the certificate and submit the same.”
The MLA countered saying, “This itself proves that it is illegal. It has no valid renewal certificate. Department should take action and stop the illegal operation.”
Following discussions, the Minister assured the House that operations of the society would be stopped and necessary action initiated.
The BJP MLA also pointed out that how fish from Cutbona jetty is supplied to foreign countries like Singapore at low prices, while the same is sold locally at higher rates. “Goans are buying fish at a very high price. Government should set up a committee to check the prices of the fish,” he said. To this the Minister replied that price rise does not come under his department’s ambit.
Velim Congress MLA Felipe Neri Rodrigues, participating in the discussion, brought to the attention of the House the growing monopoly of agents and the in-fighting between fishing operators.
