Fishermen confront MMC for losing case against MPT

VASCO, JAN 31
It may have been a High Court order on the writ petition of Mormugao Port Trust (MPT), but the Mormugao Municipal Council (MMC) was at the receiving end.
Nearly 50 fishermen on Monday confronted MMC Chief Officer Gopal Parsekar and the municipal engineer, accusing them of failing to present their case strongly in the High Court.
Led by Goa Fishing Boat Owners Association (GFBOA) President Simon Pereira, other office bearers Michael Pereira and Roney D’Souza, the agitating fishermen were later joined by Councilor Lavina D’Souza and Fiola Rego.
They sought to know why the MMC had failed to submit a Memorandum of Understating (MoU) signed in 1994 between GFBOA, MPT and state government, that had surveyed 194 structures, which would be rehabilitated first and later demolished.
Anticipating trouble in the council building, a police force was summoned to control the agitating fishermen.
Speaking to Herald, municipal sources said the MMC was not a signatory to the MoU that was signed between the MPT, GFBOA and the state government.
“As such, the MMC was not involved in the MoU and hence, it was the duty of the State government to present the MoU in the court,” a source said.