MARGAO: The Cavelossim gram sabha witnessed heated discussion over the docking of trawlers and unloading of fish from them in the village even though there was no jetty at the place and the panchayat was asked by agitated villagers to immediately stop the unloading activity even as the sarpanch asserted that the legal aspects would have to be considered.
Many villagers spoke on the issue pointing out that a prominent hotelier from Benaulim was unloading fish from trawlers within the village jurisdiction. They alleged that the structure erected to anchor the trawlers was illegal.
“The Fisheries Department will inform that trawlers can be anchored and unloaded only at jetties erected by it and cannot be done anywhere else,” said Hamilton, a villager, demanding an immediate action by the panchayat by stopping all activities at the place. However, Sarpanch Dionisio Dias pointed out that there were three structures at the site that were given house numbers by the panchayat in the past and trade tax was being paid by the party for carrying out business in all three structures since around 1980.
“We cannot find any record for what business the trade license was granted and we shall have to write to the party to find that out,” he said. To this, the villagers suggested that the sarpanch issue a show cause notice to the party to produce the details like what business he was paying the trade tax for.
The villagers argued that there could not have been a licence issued in 1980s to unload trawlers at that site and hence demanded that unloading of fish be stopped immediately.
Besides, they also pointed out that the trade licence was issued to Mobor Fisheries while the fish was being unloaded by a person from Benaulim. “When the land owner has complained about illegal activity going on in his property, why is the panchayat not taking action against this hotelier?” asked Cruz Cardoso.
The villagers also pointed out that there were around 35 workers on each trawler that is kept at the place and questioned the panchayat on the facilities available for them for sanitary purpose. They alleged that the workers defecate on the beach and demanded action for this violation at least.
Pointing out that the BDO had no jurisdiction in this matter, Advocate Aires said the authority to be approached was the Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority. He also alleged that the party was dumping all waste in the river.
Local panch Julio Fernandes termed the activity as illegal and threatened to launch an agitation with the locals if the panchayat failed to take necessary action. The sarpanch assured the people that action would be taken after verifying all records.
The villagers also demanded that the panchayat undertake an inspection of all the Sewerage Treatment Plants operated by the hotels as some of them are emitting foul odour. Informing that technology to do away with obnoxious odours was available, the sarpanch said he would organise a meeting with the hoteliers to discuss the matter.
Local hawkers on the beach were told that their letter permitting them to sell wares on the beach were typed and ready and were not given earlier only because the panchayat wanted them to raise the matter at the gram sabha
The panchayat was also asked to expedite the valuation of the removal of the temporary road constructed to construct the embankment aimed at stopping the sand bar from being formed at the mouth of the river in the interest of the many trawler owners from the village.
