MARGAO
Over a 100 fishermen from Vaddi beach, Benaulm called on the South Goa district Collector, Asvin Chandru on Thursday and demanded safety and security for them as well as for their fishing canoes and nets in the light of the recent incidents of the accused persons setting to afire their fishing gear.
Accompanied by Benaulim MLA Venzy Viegas, the fishermen impressed upon the district Collector that those arrested by the police in the incidents should not be allowed to go scot free. They demanded that the authorities set in motion the process to prevent the fire incidents from recurring again and to keep the miscreants at bay.
They also raised the issue of compensating the victims of the fire incidents since the fishermen have suffered huge losses on account of destruction of property including canoe and fishing nets in the incidents.
After giving the fishermen and the MLA a patient hearing, the district Collector later told the media that the authorities have noted the apprehensions and sentiments expressed by the fishing community from Benaulim. As far as the compensation aspect is concerned, the district Collector informed that the authorities will talk to the Fisheries department to explore the possibility of compensating the victims. He also said the authorities would find out whether the victims can be compensated through the district disaster management fund.
When the media sought to know whether the accused persons arrested in the case will be externed from the district, the Collector replied back saying that action, if any, will be initiated under the provisions of the Cr P C if the accused persons are habitual offenders.
The Benaulim MLA said the fishermen has literally displayed their show of strength before the authorities that they are all united and will unitedly get their grievances resolved. “There’s a need for all the stakeholders to come together to show their strength, be it the fishermen, water sports operators, tourist taxi operators”, he said, adding that “unitedly, the people will be able to handle the threats to the safety and security”.
Venzy said the people of Benaulim want a peaceful constituency where people live in peace, adding that he along with the fishermen have discussed with the district Collector to set in motion the process to tackle habitual offenders.
Saying that fire incidents would have been prevented if the CCTV cameras installed by the Goa Tourism Development Corporation were handed over to the police for monitoring, Venzy said the cameras are not functioning because the GTDC have not handed over the cameras to the police and the police have not taken over the cameras from the Corporation. “Due to some internal issues, the cameras have not been functioning leaving the people to suffer”, he said, demanding to know which amongst these agencies will compensate the victims.
