Team Herald
VASCO: Cortalim MLA Alina Saldanha has made it very clear that under no circumstances the disruption of traditional fishing activities at Velsao-Pale beach would be allowed, even as she consented to developing infrastructure to provide basic amenities on that beach.
Incidentally, Velsao-Pale beach has been identified for ‘Blue Flag’ certification and to move ahead with the project, a presentation by the consultant appointed by the Ministry for Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) was given to the villagers and fishermen community of Velsao-Pale village.
During the presentation, the villagers were informed that this project is basically cleaning up of the beach, ensuring that the waters off the beach, the surrounding, the sand and the environment is all clean and safe for the tourists and for the locals. Besides, that there are a lot of other developmental plans like roads, parking, basic amenities like toilets, changing room etc.
However, the traditional fishermen community raised their objections to the proposal to move them to one side of the beach citing several practical difficulties. Later, MLA Saldanha asked the project consultant to ask the MoEF&CC to consider this beach as far as cleanliness and provision of basic amenities is concerned under the prevailing circumstances. To this, the consultant promised to take this request to MoEF&CC and get back to her. Saldanha made it very clear that the fishermen cannot be moved.
“Though it is a beautiful project but the main stake holders (fishermen community) have to be involved while planning the project. We are ready for the project only if it is restricted to cleanliness and provisions of basic amenities but if the activities of traditional fishermen is disrupted, then, I cannot accept it because the fishermen themselves clearly stated that they will not allow the project if they are asked to move to one side of the beach,” Saldanha said.
“Also, the stretch of Velsao-pale beach is about 2.2 kms and more than 2000 fishermen use the beach area for fishing related activities. So, it’s a small beach and quite high number of fishermen operate from this beach and hence their activities cannot be hampered and they cannot be moved from where they are and this was made very clear to project consultant,” Saldanha added.
