MARGAO: Issues relating to the Cutbona fishing jetty, including the presence of huge migrant workforce and fishing boats beyond the size specifications, and concerns raised by traditional fishermen dominated the gram sabha of Velim village panchayat on Sunday.
Traditional fishermen operating from the Rangali belt demanded protection to their traditional occupation in view of huge fishing vessels making their presence in River Sal to dock at the Cutbona jetty.
Agitated gram sabha members even demanded that the Director of Fisheries should take NOC from the Velim panchayat before permitting any new fishing boats to operate from the Cutbona jetty to keep a tab on the operations as well as on the migrant manpower descending at the jetty.
A village Seby Cardozo raised the issue of net mending sheds at the Cutbona jetty and demanded why the proposed inspection of the sheds has not yet taken place till date. After much discussions, it was resolved that the panchayat will fix an inspection of the sheds. A 10-member committee was also constituted to assist in the inspection.
Sarpanch Melvyn Sanches said he would place the inspection proposal before the panchayat body meeting and get the approval for the inspection as well as from the committee. He favoured that the inspection take place in the presence of the district Collector and the health officials.
The gram sabha also demanded the inspection of the Cutbona jetty by the Director of Fisheries, claiming that fishing vessels are operating beyond the size specifications. They demanded revocation of the NOCs issued to vessels for violating the norms. They pointed out that vessels beyond 20 metres are operating from the Cutbona jetty against the norms.
Members also alleged that some of the fishing vessels have been claiming subsidies on old Vessel Registration Certificates (VRS) though these vessels are no more in operation.
The meeting demanded that all the migrant workers employed on the fishing vessels should be screened for malaria and dengue.
The meeting witnessed uproar over the government’s silence in compensating the traditional fishermen who suffered losses over the large scale mortality of clams in River Sal at Betul. They wondered why the government has so far not come to the rescue of the fishermen when it goes all out to announce packages for the mining affected people.
Meanwhile, Sarpanch Melvyn Sanches said the Panchayat would start collection of dry waste from the village from August 15. He said the panchayat will tie up with Goa State Pollution Control Board to carry out the weekly exercise in the village.
