Velim tense as locals block fish trucks

Velim tense as locals block fish trucks
HERALD REPORTER
MARGAO, APRIL 25
Tension rent the air in Velim on Sunday night after agitated residents stopped fish transporting trucks holding them responsible for spillage and the slippery condition of the roads.
As many as five trucks were stopped by the locals, even as the Cuncolim police rushed to Velim to avert any law and order situation.
The residents questioned the police for not cracking a whip on the water spillage on the roads caused by the trucks transporting fish from the Cutbona fishing jetty to the fish mills across the state borders.
What has upset the locals was the fact that the Cuncolim police did not come on the spot when the locals intimated them on the water spillage, but made their presence felt only when the fish transporters called them on the scene.
Residents of Assolna, Velim, Cuncolim and Chinchinim had been complaining for too long about the water spillage from fish transporting trucks, but lamented over the inaction by law enforcing agencies, including the police due to the links between the police, fish transporters and the trawler owners.
In fact, the contentious issue over water spillage was resolved a couple of years ago after the fish transporters were ordered by the authorities to install water tanks to collect the waste water, but the directions have been now thrown to the winds for reasons best know to the transporters and the Cuncolim police.
When contacted, Cuncolim police said a police team led by PSI Prasanna Bhagat has proceeded to Velim to take stock of the situation. PSI Bhagat sought a day’s time to resolve the issue with the union of the fish transporters.
The residents also contacted the local MLA and Minister for Water Resources Filipe Neri Rodrigues, who has reportedly promised the agitated residents to take up the matter with the fish transporters and the trawler owners.