MAPUSA: Along with Siolim and Camurlim, Anjuna village panchayat, Tuem, Agarwada-Chopdem, Oxel-Siolim have joined the agitation against floating jetty in Chapora river.
Under the banner of Save Chapora River, people from these villages on Sunday gathered at Camurlim ferry point and raised strong objection since even after one month, the Captain of Ports Department failed to shift the floating jetty from Camurlim.
This meeting was also attended by Anjuna Caisua Sarpanch Savio Almeida, Chairman of Biodiversity management committee of Anjuna Caisua Michael D’Souza, Morjim ZP member Satish Shetgaonkar, ex-ZP member Deepak Kalangutkar, Chairman of Caisua Fishermen’s Committee, Sarpanch and panch members of different panchayats.
Protestors claimed that this floating jetty is of no benefit to the locals but it is rather going to harm the locals especially the fishing community.
“All these years, the fishing community was asking for fishing jetty, but this government turned a blind eye towards their demand and now without consulting the local panchayats and villagers the jetty has been brought here. Also a concerned officer from Captain of Ports should have consulted the villagers and revealed the exact purpose of the jetty but instead a contractor turned up to the people. It is also learnt that this is the same marine project which was rejected by panchayats on the river bank of Chapora”, Kalangutkar said.
“Fishermen are asking for repair of existing jetty at Caisua but government is not taking any initiative. They are asking for sand dragging at Chapora since it is affecting the smooth movement of fishing trawlers but it is not being done yet”, Balbhim Malvankar a fisherman from Anjuna said.
Protestors also appealed other villages to support the agitation for the betterment of the future.
It can be recalled that on May 28, a floating jetty was found parked near Siolim bridge, after which the villagers and panchayat of Siolim-Marna raised objection and demanded the removal of the same on immediate basis. Seeing the objection raised from the villagers, the jetty was then shifted to Camurlim.
Later, when the Camurlim village panchayat also objected, captain of ports assured to shift the floating jetty back to Panjim. However, even after a one month, the jetty is still lying at the river side at Camurlim.
