Govt puts fish plant land acquisition on hold

Govt puts fish plant land acquisition on hold
HERALD REPORTER
MARGAO, AUG 31
Agitation by Velim villagers against the proposed fish meal plant at the Cutbona fishing jetty drew first success, with the government on Tuesday deciding to keep on hold the land acquisition process to acquire land admeasuring 30,000 square meters for the project.
The government’s decision comes a day before the planned dharna called by the Velim villagers near the Velim Panchayat hall on September 1 morning to protest against the fish meal project.
At a high-level meeting held at the residence of Velim MLA and Water Resources Minister, Filipe Neri Rodrigues, it was further decided to appoint a consultant to carry out a comprehensive study on the existing fishing jetty at Cutbona and the requirements for further expansion. The meeting was attended by the Fisheries Minister, Joaquim Alemao, Land Acquisition Officer, Agnelo Fernandes and Velim Sarpanch Reny Caeiro.
“The government has decided to keep on hold the land acquisition process till the consultant submits its report on all aspects of the fishing jetty”, informed Fisheries Minister, Joaquim Alemao after the meeting.
Alemao said the Fisheries department will invite Expression of Interest to appoint a consultant to not only study the fish meal plant, but all aspects of expansion of the fishing jetty.
Referring to the objections raised by the villagers against the project, Alemao threatened to take the fish meal plant to North Goa.
Minister Filipe Neri Rodrigues expressed his happiness that the Fisheries Minister has respected the sentiments of the people who are opposed to the project. “The land acquisition process has been kept on hold. I have requested the Fisheries Minister to carry out a comprehensive study on the existing jetty and the requirements of future expansion, including dredging of the mouth of River Sal”, Filipe Neri added.
Deputy Collector, Land Acquisition Officer, Agnelo Fernandes told Herald that his office will not go ahead with the land acquisition process following instructions from the Fisheries Minister.
Velim Sarpanch Reny Caeiro thanked the local MLA and the Fisheries Minister for respecting the sentiments of the villagers.
The Velim gram Sabha had on Sunday unanimously resolved to oppose the fish meal project tooth and nail and had vowed to sit on a day-long dharna outside the Panchayat hall on September 1 to protest against the refusal by the fisheries director and the land acquisition officer to come down to the village and explain the project.
Meanwhile, the Velim Civic and Consumer Forum has extended full support to the clarion call for a dharna on September 1 at 10 am at the Velim Panchayat to oppose the acquisition of cultivated Khazan lands.
Welcoming the decision of both the Velim and Ambelim Panchayats and the gram Sabha resolutions to strongly oppose the acquisition of land admeasuring 30,000, Forum Convenor Ramona Almeida said that the villages of Velim and Ambelim have realized the environment impact this project will cause to the community in and around Velim.