Team Herald
MARGAO: Boat owners from Cutbona are urging Chief Minister Pramod Sawant to reconsider his recent statement threatening them with a hefty Rs 25 lakh compensation demand in the event of further deaths among migrant crew members. The Cutbona Boat Owners Federation argued that such a large sum would be unmanageable and could drive them out of business.
Vinay Tari, Chairman of the Cutbona Fisheries Society, expressed the collective frustration of the boat owners. He mentioned plans to submit a formal representation to the Chief Minister, seeking a review of the decision, which they believe is unreasonable. “The proposed compensation amount is too high and could spell the end for many in the business,” he said.
Boat owner Savio D’Silva raised further concerns about the feasibility of the demand. “How can we pay an amount that exceeds the value of our boats?” he asked.
Patrick D’Silva, another boat owner, criticised the compensation figure as unrealistic, particularly given the unpredictability of incidents like the recent cholera outbreak. “We are in the business of fishing, not endangering our workers’ lives. These events are unfortunate, but imposing such a large compensation is not a solution,” he argued.
Savio also took offence at the way the CM spoke about the boat owners. He pointed out that the cholera issue arose at Mobor jetty, not Cutbona, and questioned why the Fisheries Department wasn’t being held accountable for failing to address jetty issues. He cited the long-standing problem of abandoned boats that were not removed despite being fined Rs 5,000. Savio blamed the Fisheries Minister and Director for neglecting the extended fishing jetty, constructed in 2019, which saw no action until the CM’s recent visit.
He also questioned why the Fisheries Minister had never visited the jetty and expressed hope that the new Fisheries Director, an IAS officer, would bring about change.
Regarding the CM’s assurances of addressing infrastructure issues at the jetty, the boat owners expressed optimism, especially with the CM’s promise to inaugurate the new jetty in 15 days.