MARGAO
Benaulim fishermen on Friday claimed that private players have set their eyes on the prime beach facing property in Benaulim, as they upped the ante in support of their long pending demand before the government to allot them a portion of the land for their fishing activities.
A group of fishermen led by Pele Fernandes called on Environment Minister Aleixo Sequeira with a plea to convince the government to allot land admeasuring 5,000 square metres for the traditional fishermen to anchor their fishing canoes during monsoons, besides other fishing activities.
Pele drew attention of the Minister that people attired in suits are taking rounds of the prime land at Benaulim, making a plea to the Minister to protect their interests before taking any decision.
The fishermen further drew Sequeira’s attention to the fact that Chief Minister Pramod Sawant had in the recent past promised a delegation of traditional fishermen that the government will look into the demand for allotting the prawn hatchery land.
The Environment Minister, however, later told the media that he has not given any commitment to the fishermen simply because he is not aware of the issue. “I am not in a position to offer my comment since I don’t know the issue. In fact, I told Pele that I am hearing the issue for the first time,” he said.
He added: “I know that the land at Benaulim was acquired by the government to set up a prawn hatchery with UNDP support as a pilot project. Since I do not know the issue, I have not given any commitment.”
Pele later told the media that the Benaulim fishermen had been running from pillar to post over the last two years demanding that the government allocate land admeasuring 5,000 square metres to the fishermen to pursue their fishing activities. “I had discussed the issue with Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on December 3 on the occasion of the feast of St Francis Xavier along with Fatorda MLA Vijai Sardesai. The issue was again discussed with the Chief Minister some two months ago when a delegation had called on him,” Pele said.
Saying that some persons attired in suits have been making rounds in the last few days, Pele said the government cannot give the land to private parties when the fishermen are demanding a portion of the land to pursue their fishing activities.
