Team Herald

VASCO: The traditional fishermen from Khariwado, Baina under the banner of Goenchea Ramponkarancho Ekvott (GRE) on Thursday threatened that under no circumstances they would allow Mormugao Port Trust (MPT) to go ahead with its proposed Vasco bay development plan which includes development of fishing jetty, passenger jetty, multipurpose cargo berths and petroleum, oil and lubricants (POL) berth.  

“On one side MPT helped Dhristi to construct a passenger jetty at Baina for promoting tourism but on the other hand it wants to destroy natural beach at Khariwado in name of Vasco bay development plan. We traditional fishermen from Khariwado, Desterro and Baina are totally against the same and we will not allow it to become reality. If required we will come on streets or will not hesitate to die,” said Olencio Simoes, Vice chairman of National Fishworkers’ Forum (NFF) and GRE General Secretary.

“By proposing the fishing cum petroleum jetty, MPT is trying to divide the fishermen. We want to inform the state government that mechanised sector and traditional sector are one. We need fishing jetty for mechanised boat operators but at its present site.  Today, MPT is trying to shift Khariwado fishermen from the present jetty to new jetty but what guarantee will MPT give that it will not shift them even from the new jetty citing port need,” Simoes asked.

Requesting the Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB) to give sufficient time to the speakers to speak during forthcoming hearing for the project, social activist Vikram Sarmalkar  said, “During the last public hearing held last year,  many people were given limited time to express their views. This time such thing should not happen. Everybody should be given enough time to speak and not cut short. Khariwado beach is the only beach left in Vasco and we will not allow MPT to construct petroleum, oil and lubricants (POL) berth as it is going to be threat to all of us,” Sarmalkar claimed.

Custodio D’Souza, president of Old Cross Fishing Canoe Owners’ Co-operative Society (OCFCOCS) said, “POL berth at Vasco bay will obstruct our fishing activities and hence we will not allow it to become reality. Though we are important stakeholders but till date MPT, MLA or the GSPCB have not showed us any plans as to what and how MPT has proposed to take up work for the proposed Vasco bay development plan. We demand that before public hearing, MPT should show us the plan,” he demanded.