For over 30 years, the lack of proper sanitation facilities, poor drinking water and the absence of basic infrastructure has been hounding the fishing community at Khariwado, Vasco. The absence of all these amenities is in fact, a violation of the guidelines of the National Fisheries Department and it is mandatory for any state fisheries department to ensure that all essential facilities are in place at the jetties but the one at Khariwado cannot be repaired or altered by the state administration because it lies in the jurisdiction of Mormugao
Port and the state cannot do anything here until the MPT gives its nod.
This has irked the fishermen at Khariwado who are now in no mood to listen to any excuse but are waiting to see results, failing which they may protest on the streets. “Enough is enough; everyone so far has fooled us in the name of the jetty. Now we don’t want to listen to doles but would like to see action as we have been waiting in hope to see if these promises come to fruition. However, even after waiting for years, nothing has moved on the ground,” said Rony D’Souza, former president and present member of Goa fishing boat owners association.
Rony and 250 odd members who are part of the Khariwado fishing community have been pleading before the state administration as well as the MPT to provide a new fishing jetty and as temporary relief to get the existing jetty repaired. From signing of the MoU to site selection and project report, all the formalities have been completed but the new jetty is still a distant dream for the Khariwado fishermen.
“We have to literally plead before them to get the existing jetty repaired. Every year and that too only after we make requests before
the state administration and MPT, we see some repairs work. But what surprises us is that fact that the concerned party that carries out repairs uses old and corroded steel plates which don’t even last one season. These corroded steel plates and bars not only damage the boats but also injure people operating at the jetty. And this year, repairs are yet to commence,” said Simon Pereira, a member of the fishing community.
While there are long lists of issues pertaining to the existing jetty, the people operating from this jetty are also facing hardships due to the lack of facilities and amenities. They want at least a 300 meter long jetty but they are forced to operate from a 75 meter long jetty which can accommodate only 15 trawlers at one time while others have to wait in queues for unloading as well as loading operations. Thus operation from this jetty is never an easy task.
“Forget about basic amenities which are prescribed by the department, what Vasco fishermen have got in the name of a jetty is a dilapidated berthing facility which often damages the trawlers in anchorage. Provision of water, toilet, ice plant, storage, auction hall, net mending and shed facilities and canteen and other allied facilities are out of question,” said Edwin Carvalho another member of the community. According to fishermen, their major worry is the annual spending on repairs of trawlers and boats as one has to spend nothing less that 2 to 3 lakh only to get their vessels repaired. “Most of our trawlers are made of wood and thus the moment it comes in contact with corroded steel rods, they get damaged no matter how good the condition of the boat is. The fishermen spend about 3 cores only on repairs of the boats,” he added.
Meanwhile, MPT Chairman Cyril George told Herald that although he doesn’t have a clue about the present condition of the Khariwado jetty, he will soon give directions to inspect the site and will then take a decision on this year’s repairs.
Eleven months back, Fisheries Minister Avertano Furtado offered a compensation of Rs 2 lakh to the family members of late Francis De Sousa and UP native, Harish Chandra alias Pappu. The compensation was offered by Furtado after ill-fated trawler ‘Maria Rosa’ capsized near the Naval Coast Battery off Headland-Vasco on August 1, 2014 leaving De Souza dead while Pappu was never found.
Exactly after a month, the family members of the deceased would observe the first month anniversary of the incident but the assured compensation did not reach them. This has now irked the fishing community at Khariwado. They have demanded that the state administration release the compensation on priority. “It is sad that the state administration is treating the family members of the deceased so badly. We would like to make another appeal to the state government and especially the Fisheries Minister Avertano Furtado to release the compensation amount on priority and not play with the sentiments of the fishing community members,” said Simon Pereira, a fisherman from Khariwado.
When contacted, Furtado acknowledged the fact that there was some delay in fulfilling the promise he made to the family members. “Though there was some delay, I again assure that I will fulfil my promise and will see to it that the family members of Francis and Pappu are paid the compensation if not from Fisheries department fund then at least from the Chief Minister’s relief fund,” he assured.
