Team Herald
VASCO: Goa Barge Owner Association (GBOA) President Raymond De Sa has said that keeping loaded barges idle at sea would not only be highly risky, but would also obstruct the free movement of ships coming down to port and the fishing vessels operating from Khariwado jetty and using Vasco bay.
“If the barges sink, the owners will suffer huge financial loss,” he said.
“Majority of our barges are loaded with ore cargo and are anchored in the port area and they might obstruct free movement of ships and fishing vessels. We also fear that if any of our barges sinks at the place where it is presently anchored then it will be a big obstruction for navigation in port area. Similarly the way our barges are anchored it will be very difficult for the ships or fishing trawlers to come inside their jetty freely as before,” De Sa said.
“I strongly feel that the State government has to take responsibility and should come out with some sort of policy wherein we are allowed to discharge our barges at the earliest. Currently, the situation is quite confusing and we are not getting any positive signals. And if monsoon comes and if ore cargo which is loaded on our barges becomes wet then nobody will be able to remove it. In such circumstances what we are supposed to do as even shippers will not take the ore,” De Sa said.
He said that GBOA has already started its preparations to approach High Court in the matter. “We have given representation to exporters giving them time to file plea before court and get order so that we can discharge the cargo. Similarly, we are also intending to approach the High Court,” he informed.
He also said that since their barges are taking shelter in port area, GBOA has officially asked MPT to provide free food and water to their crew . “If MPT can provide free food and water to fishing boats that had come to port area seeking safe shelter, it should also provide similar assistance to our barges having Goan crew members,” he demanded.
