MARGAO: Firmly ruling out any plans to make Cutbona jetty a fishing harbour, Fisheries Minister, Avertano Furtado has assured the fishermen from Velim and Betul that the government intends to only extend the existing Cutbona fishing jetty.
Speaking to the fishermen community at Velim during the visit of Deputy Chief Minister, Francis D’Souza, Avertano said that the Fisheries department is willing to hold a presentation on the project proposed at Cutbona jetty at the village Panchayat for the benefit of the people. “There’s a delay in the execution of the Cutbona jetty expansion project because of reports that the government has proposed a fishing harbour at Cutbona. I want to clarify that what the government has proposed at Cutbona is just expansion of the fishing jetty,” Avertano said.
The Fisheries Minister unveiled the plans to deploy five rickshaw vehicles in the State around March and April to sell fish at subsided rates. He also said the Fisheries department will buy its own fishing trawler to sell subsidised fish to fish loving Goans.
In his address, Deputy Chief Minister, Francis D’Sousa stressed on the need to increase fish productivity in the State. “One way to increase fish productivity is to go for fish farming. The government has gone in for cage fish culture, but all these ventures should be exploited commercially so that the fishermen earn a living while Goans get cheap fish in the market,” D’Souza asserted.
In his address, Velim MLA Benjamin D’Silva underlined the need to simplify the various schemes meant for the fishermen community.
The trio later distributed fish boxes to the fishermen from the area.
