Team Herald
VASCO: Fisheries Minister Avertano Furtado Wednesday informed that the demolition of 121 structures at Katem Baina has been kept on hold and the state administration would not touch these structures till the end of rains.
He said that assurance in this regards has been given by Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar and Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar. Furtado was speaking to reporters on the sidelines of a ‘Job Fair’ at Verna on Friday.
It is instructive that the fishermen community from Baina and Khariwado along with the members of Goenchea Ramponkarancho Ekvott (GRE) had approached Furtdao few weeks ago pleading with him to visit the Katem at Baina where fishermen have been living under constant fear of demolition.
As assured to the fishermen on July 4, Furtado met Parrikar and Parsekar and got an assurance that the demolition would be kept on hold till rains are over.
As per the order of Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority, the State administration was supposed to take up demolition anytime during the rains.
However, I have now got assurance from Parrikar and Parsekar that the demolition would be kept on hold till rains are over,” the minister said.
He opined that the State government should find a suitable place to rehabilitate the fishermen before going ahead with the demolition of their houses.
