VASCO: All Goa Fishing Boat Owners Association’s President Jose Philip D’Souza has expressed hope of resolving Khariwada fishing jetty’s issue soon after paying a visit to the newly appointed MPA chairman N Vinod Kumar. D’Souza said that Kumar was receptive and assured to work on the issues put before him.
Association’s treasurer Xavier D’Souza, assistant treasurer Abubakar Dangi and manager Rohit were also present during the visit. “We told him the inconvenience faced by fishermen as the respective jetty has become way too old to operate. We were given assurance whenever we presented appeals to MPA, State Government and Central Government. However, the old jetty has neither been expanded nor the work of an advanced fishing harbour has begun. We brought this to the attention of Dr Vinod Kumar,” said D’Souza.
“The capacity of the fifty-meter long Khariwada jetty is limited so that not more than 250 boats can be docked here at a time. The boats suffer damage by bumping into each other when they are anchored in the sea and the boat owners have to endure the repairing costs. We hope that Dr Vinod Kumar will take due notice of our issues,” D’Souza added.
“I have spoken with the government machinery regarding the Khariwada jetty project. In a meeting with the officials of Goa Fishing Boat Owners Association, discussions were held over building a fishing jetty and a fishing harbour. I have put forth these subjects with the Chief Secretary and his response was receptive,” said Kumar.
