TEAM HERALD
MARGAO: The traditional fishermen from Colva pleaded with Chief Minister, Manohar Parrikar, to spare their ancestral huts which are marked for demolition in order to make way for tourism projects.
Parrikar along with Fisheries Minister Avertano Furtado and Benaulim MLA Caitu Silva in tow, descended at the property acquired for tourism projects at Colva on Saturday afternoon, where he was greeted with pleas for protection from displacement.
A woman from the fishing community, Alice, told Parrikar that they have been occupying the area for decades now and urged him to stop the Tourism department from displacing them from their habitat. “We pin our hopes on you. The Tourism department has plans to displace us from our habitat. We use the place for drying fish, and the huts protect our canoes, fishing nets, salt and dry fish,” Alice told the CM.
She pointed that the location of the place is ideal to pursue their traditional occupation given its proximity to the sea. “We can fetch water from the sea for our requirements and in summer, we sell the fish in the property itself,” she added.
After giving a patient hearing to the grievances and sentiments expressed by the traditional fishermen, the chief minister sought to know whether the traditional fishermen could be rehabilitated in the fisheries department acquired property located away from the coast. However, the proposed site did not find favour with the fishermen, who insisted that they be rehabilitated at the existing site itself since the location meets their requirements.
Benaulim MLA Caitu Silva, who arranged the chief minister’s visit to the site, later exuded confidence that the chief minister would work out a solution keeping in mind the interests of the traditional fishermen.
The Chief Minister later told newsmen that he has only taken a stock of the situation by inspecting the area. “We have not taken any decision. I will return back to Colva by June 5 for further inspection and a call on the matter,” Parrikar added.
