Few months before the 2017 assembly elections the foundation stone for the proposed development of Vasco bay project which includes berth for liquid bulk products including LPG, and a fishing jetty with an estimated cost of Rs 116.38 Crores was laid. Trawler owners from Khariwado who have been currently operating from dilapidated and congested fishing jetty assumed that the work on the fishing jetty would commence soon however even after one year there is no sign of fishing jetty though MPT has been reconfirming their commitment of fishing jetty at regular interval. Today the fishermen community is confused as there is no sign of new fishing jetty.
In last one yearMormugao port authorities have successfully removed the wreckages of a sunken vessel that would have created hindrance in the implementation of the plan and two other wreckages would also be removed in days to come. MPT however also blamed the pollution control board for the undue delay in holding public hearing due to which this fishing harbor project which is very important for Khariwado fishermen would get delayed further.
While there has been delay in taking up the project, a controversy also hit the project. The controversy is not related to new fishing jetty but is related to the bulk liquid cargo (POL) berth in the Vasco Bay. While fully supporting the modern fishing jetty exclusively for Khariwado fishermen concerned citizens group have raised their strong objection to the bulk liquid cargo (POL) berth in the Vasco Bay terming it as the worst misfortune that could fall upon Vasco town which is already sitting on time bomb.
