Team Herald
MARGAO: A clash between locals and farmers was witnessed in Curtorim over the fresh fish harvesting, at Raloi-Tollem, on Saturday.
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Several locals, including a section of farmers gathered at Raloi-Tollem and alleged that they were denied the right by the Raloi-Lake Tenant Association to harvest fish after May 15, which they claim has been a traditional practice for the last several years.
Speaking to media persons, Minguel alias Micky Frenandes, a local, informed that allowing the locals after May 15 to catch the fish in the lake was a traditional practice. However, this time they were not allowed to do so by the Raloi-Lake Tenant Association.
“After having the process of auctioning on May 15, the Association strictly denied the entry into the lake for fish harvesting, which is not fair. Actually, they used to have the auctioning in the month of September,” he stated.
He also blamed local MLA Aleixo Reginaldo Lourenco for failing to resolve the issue and taking the side of the Association.
“Members of the Association even assaulted a few of our youth who went into the lake to catch fish,” Minguel alleged.
Josephine, a local lady, also claimed that they deserve full right to harvest the fish in the lake.
Reacting to the allegations, Seby Barretto, chairman of Raloi-Lake Tenant Association said that a group of farmers managed to take the responsibility of fish farming instead of auctioning for the last three years.
“Actually, the fish harvesting is done on three occasions on regular intervals. However, this time we managed to do it only twice due to the enough time to be given for breeding. And this decision of not allowing the locals to catch the fish is of farmers and not of any individuals,” he informed.
He also said that if the local, and a group of farmers, wants to go ahead with the old practice of taking the responsibilities of auctioning by outsiders, then the Association doesn’t have any objection to that.
“Let the new committee which will be constituted in the next couple of days take the decision,” Seby said.
He said, “The associations are facing lot of hardships in order to bring the seed from the neighbouring States, as there is no assistance from the concerned authorities of State.”
