TEAM HERALD
MARGAO: Residents of Velim on Sunday have urged the government to compensate the traditional fishermen affected by the large scale death of clams in the River Sal.
The demand was put forth by the fishermen at an interaction organised by the Velim Village Panchayat with officials of the Fisheries department. Velim MLA Benjamin D’Silva was also present.
Making a forceful demand for government relief for the fishermen totally depending on clams, Vinay Tari said the affected fishermen should be compensated for the loss suffered by the death of the clams. When the villagers urged the Velim MLA Benjamin D’Silva to take up the issue of compensation with the Chief Minister, Manohar Parrikar, he said that no one has so far approached him with the demand for compensation till date.
At this stage, Tari and others sought to know from Velim Sarpanch Melvyn Sanches whether the Panchayat had not made any correspondence to the local MLA. Sanches replied saying that a copy of the correspondence made by the Panchayat was indeed addressed to the local MLA.
After heated discussions, the residents demanded that the MLA take up the issue of compensation with the government as the representatives of the people.
The Director of Fisheries Dr Sharmila Monteiro explained to the villagers the proposed project at the mouth of River Sal and the expansion of the Cutbona fishing jetty. She pointed out that break water facility is only implemented in the sea, adding that the department will take up construction of a retaining wall at the river mouth.
The villagers led by Tari impressed upon the Fisheries director the futility of dredging the river mouth, pointing out that dredging has not helped to ensure smooth navigation channel at the river mouth.
The interaction was arranged by the Velim village Panchayat as per the gram sabha resolution which sought to know the project the Fisheries department planned to implement at Cutbona jetty.
