PANJIM: The South Goa District Congress, the Village Panchayat of Cortalim, the local MLA Antonio Vas and fishermen of Cortalim have strongly opposed the proposed privatization of the Cortalim Jetty. They say it should be kept only for fishing by traditional fishermen.
Information was submitted to the Goa Assembly by Fisheries Minister Nilkanth Harlankar in reply to an unstarred LAQ No 8, on Thursday, that his department had received approval to privatize the Cortalim jetty to Deep Sea Fishing Marketing and Cooperative society limited. Reacting to this the Goa District Congress President, “We don’t know who this Deep Sea Fishing is. Is a tender going to be floated? The government has bypassed the local panchayat and the stakeholders. Dept has appointed Water and Power Consultancy Services as the project executing agency. They are using tax payers money to upgrade the jetty and give it to private party.”
Olencio Simoes, General Secretary GRE asked, “Why is the jetty being privatized? For Casinos? Coal? There is not clarity. There are 10 fishing association and 5 jetties. The Vasco fishermen are asking for five years to upgrade their jetty. Similarly, fishmen from Cutbona and Malim have asked to repair their dilapidated jetties. If government has the interest of fishermen at heart, why is it no upgrading these jetties?”
Information was submitted to the Goa Assembly by Fisheries Minister Nilkanth Harlankar in reply to an unstarred LAQ No 8, on Thursday, that his department had received approval to privatize the Cortalim jetty to Deep Sea Fishing Marketing and Cooperative society limited. Reacting to this the Goa District Congress President, “We don’t know who this Deep Sea Fishing is. Is a tender going to be floated? The government has bypassed the local panchayat and the stakeholders. Dept has appointed Water and Power Consultancy Services as the project executing agency. They are using tax payers money to upgrade the jetty and give it to private party.”
Olencio Simoes, General Secretary GRE asked, “Why is the jetty being privatized? For Casinos? Coal? There is not clarity. There are 10 fishing association and 5 jetties. The Vasco fishermen are asking for five years to upgrade their jetty. Similarly, fishmen from Cutbona and Malim have asked to repair their dilapidated jetties. If government has the interest of fishermen at heart, why is it no upgrading these jetties?”
Cortalim MLA Antonio Vas said, “The Village Panchayat and the people are opposing the privatization of this jetty. We are not going to give it to a private party. We had met the Captain of Ports and from that time the issue was on hold. We have already object and we have written three letters. CM has assured me that we wont allow a private jetty here.”
Cortalim Sarpanch said, “In 2022, in a letter to Fisheries dept with a copy to the Captain of Ports we had objected to leasing out the unused portion of the ferry ramp. We visited the Captain of Ports in a delegation with the MLA and emphasized that we don’t want any activity here, except for fishing.”
Cortalim Sarpanch said, “In 2022, in a letter to Fisheries dept with a copy to the Captain of Ports we had objected to leasing out the unused portion of the ferry ramp. We visited the Captain of Ports in a delegation with the MLA and emphasized that we don’t want any activity here, except for fishing.”
