Team led by Deputy Collector, mamlatdar inspect defunct hatchery for proposed fishing vessel berthing space, and other fishing activities
South Goa Collectorate officials with Benaulim fishermen inspecting the defunct Benaulim prawn hatchery unit. Fishermen forced to anchor country-made fishing vessels on the Benaulim shore for lack of dedicated space.
Photo Credits: Santosh Mirajkar
MARGAO
Benaulim fishermen pinned their hopes on Chief Minister Pramod Sawant to fulfil their long-pending demand of dedicated space for berthing of fishing vessels, as authorities inspected the defunct Benaulim hatchery complex to explore the possibility of allocating space for the fishing community.
A team comprising of Deputy Collector, Margao, M Shabir and Salcete Mamlatdar Vimod Dalal upon instructions from South District Collector, Egna Cleetus conducted an inspection of the defunct Benaulim hatchery unit along with local fishermen.
The inspection came soon after the Chief Minister instructed the District Collector, South to conduct the inspection of Benaulim hatchery unit where the local fishermen have laid claim for a dedicated land admeasuring 5,000 square metres to park their country-made vessels.
When the team entered the hatchery complex, the officials were welcomed by abandoned water tanks, besides structures, indicating that the land has been lying idle for years now.
The fishermen explained to the Deputy Collector-led team how their burning issue of berthing of fishing vessels can be resolved permanently if the government allocates the fishing community 5,000 square metres of land out of the total 50,000-odd square metres of the total property.
The Deputy Collector assured the fishermen that he would compile a report and submit the same to the District Collector, who in turn will forward the report to the government for information. He, however, pointed out that the hatchery space is accessible to the shore and will be a great initiative for the welfare of the fishing community. “We have inspected the property in question. We have heard the fishermen who are facing difficulties in parking their vessels on the shore during off season. I will submit the inspection report to the district Collector for further action,” he said.
President of the local fishing association, Jose Fernandes informed that the Benaulim fishermen now pin their hopes on the Chief Minister to resolve their long-pending demand for dedicated space at the hatchery complex. “We have asked for land admeasuring 5,000 square metres at the hatchery complex, not just to park our vessels but to pursue our fishing activities including storage of fish and fish drying,” he said.
He added: “All these years, the fishermen used to park their vessels on the shore falling under private properties. However, some of the private owners this year have complained to the Fisheries Department, which have issued notices to the fishermen, threatening to cancel our licences if the vessels are not removed from the private properties.”
Fisherman Pele Fernandes thanked Chief Minister Pramod Sawant for honouring his promise to get the Benaulim hatchery unit inspected by the district authorities. “We now hope the Chief Minister will fulfill the long-pending demand of fishermen for a dedicated space in the fisheries complex for berthing of our country-made canoes,” he added.
Goa Police eyes land for Colva station shift
MARGAO: Is the Goa Police also eying the defunct Benaulim prawn hatchery land at Benaulim to shift the Colva police station functioning from an old rented house at Colva?
Sources told The Goan that senior police officials along with district Collectorate officials are believed to have inspected the Benaulim prawn hatchery land to explore the possibility of setting up the Colva police station on a parcel of land in the complex.
Sources said that the Colva police station has been functioning from the old rented premises for lack of alternate land to build a spacious police station. “The land at the Benaulim hatchery has been found suitable to set up the police station building as well as barracks of the police personnel,” sources said, adding that the police higher ups will forward a report to the government for information and action.
