MOBOR: Four years after granting permission for a private fish landing jetty at Mobor in Cavelossim, the Fisheries Department has still not notified the same in the official gazette, fuelling allegations that the process was not free and fair.
From amongst the 18 conditions, the last one reads: “After receipt of application for private landing jetty and scrutinising the same, permission will be granted. After issuing permission, the same shall be notified in the Official Gazette.”
“There must have been a slip if it has not yet been notified. I will have a check and get it notified soon,” Shamila Monteiro, Director of Fisheries told O Heraldo.
Interestingly, paragraph two of the official gazette dated September 24, 2020 states: “The Coastal Security Coordination Committee recommended that State landing at any other landing centre other than notified land jetties should not be allowed.”
Despite such a recommendation, the Fisheries Department on grounds of “relieving pressure from existing notified jetties” proposed to notify private fish landing centers with 18 conditions.
“Miguel Rodrigues, owner of Joecon and one Silva had applied and Joecon was allowed to set it up in Mobor because it met all the stipulated conditions. I will have to check why Silva was not allowed, as I was not around when he had applied,” added Monteiro.
“It is four years since the operations commenced in 2020 and publication in the gazette was one of the conditions. It is essential to have been done prior to operations commencing,” informed an advocate who is aware of the situation, on conditions of anonymity.
“The point is that, despite a negative recommendation from the Coastal Security Coordination Committee, conditions were relaxed and it can be safely assumed it was for Joecon because only one person was permitted,” reasoned the advocate.
Miguel Rodrigues when asked to explain how he won the rights to operate the first private fish landing centre in Goa despite opposition, said, “I have not been given permission to build a jetty but a private landing centre on my private place. The place was used by fishermen to dry fish around seventy years back and I have only improved the facilities,” he said and added for effect, “The problem in Goa is that people with no knowledge of fishing are trying to educate fishermen about fishing.” he added.
“It is known to all that Goa is small and it is surprising that even after the Coastal Security Coordination Committee was against the setting up of a private landing jetty, the Director of Fisheries is advocating more private landing jetties,” observed a marine scientist attested to Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute in Karwar, on conditions of anonymity.