VASCO: Raising serious concerns over the undue delay in taking up the work of the proposed fishing harbour project at Vasco Bay by Mormugao Port Authorities, Goa Fishing Boat Owners’ Association (GFBOA) members on Monday demanded that MPT should extend the fishing jetty by another 50 metres on both sides to reduce fishermen’s hardships.
They demanded that without any delay the port authorities should either repair the jetty, which is in dilapidated state or allow the state government to carry out the same.
Claiming that due to the maintenance dredging by MPT, the fishing jetty has shows signs of distress, the members feared that the jetty may collapse due to erosion.
“Every year we have been spending lakhs of rupees for repairing our trawlers as our existing fishing jetty is in dilapidated condition and congested and this would continue until the new fishing jetty becomes a reality. We don’t know why there has been delay in taking up the work of proposed fishing jetty but we want a new fishing jetty soon and government should help us by making new fishing jetty, a reality on priority. In the meantime while undertaking repairs of the existing jetty, MPT should extend the same by another 50 metres on both sides,” said former GFBOA president Sydney Furtado during a joint meeting in GFBOA office at Khariwado.
The meeting was chaired by Fisheries Minister Vinod Palyekar. The GFBOA members, MPT officials, Vasco Police, fisheries officials and other stakeholders were present.
Meanwhile, upset with the Mormugao Municipal Council for issuing a trade licence to a party for selling frozen sea foods, the traditional fish vendors from Vasco fish market led by Vasco Fish Market Vendors’ Association president Caridade Pereira on Monday demanded that the state government should impose a complete ban on the sale of fish outside Vasco fish market.
Pereira sought the minister’s intervention failing which the association president threatened to come out on streets along with other traditional fish vendors.
