MARGAO
The Cutbona fishing jetty witnessed an uproar on Wednesday noon after fisheries officials stopped fish transporting trucks from entering the jetty to load the catch on grounds the fish agents have not done the registration and paid the fees.
Agitated boat owners operating from Cutbona jetty bitterly protested over the move of the fisheries officials. They demanded to know how come the Fisheries department is insisting on the fish agents operating from Cutbona to register and pay the fees before lifting fishing catch while the rule is not applied to the agents at the other jetties including Vasco, Mallim and Chapora.
The boat owners sought the intervention of Velim MLA Cruz Silva, who immediately discussed the matter over the phone with Fisheries Minister Nilkanth Harlankar and Fisheries Director Shamila Monteiro.
The fish vehicles were allowed to enter the jetty only after it was decided that the agents would start the process of filling up the registration forms.
Till such time, an amicable solution is worked out at a joint meeting with the Fisheries Minister, Director and the stakeholders, the jetty gate will remain open for the fish transporting vehicles of the agents, informed the Velim MLA.
The uproar occurred after the Fisheries officials refused to open the gate for the fish transporting vehicles on the plea they are neither registered with the department nor have paid the Rs two lakh fees.
Boat owner and chairman of the Fisheries Cooperative society, Vinay Tari questioned the Fisheries department’s action demanding to know why only the authorities are implementing decisions at Cutbona and not at the other jetties.
He also pointed out that agents have been complaining that they cannot afford to pay the hefty fees imposed by the Fisheries department.
He lamented that while the department is collecting fees from the agents, there’s no development at the jetty.
The Velim MLA told the media that the Fisheries Minister has assured him that the implementation of the rates will be uniformly implemented across the jetties.
“Till such time a meeting of the stakeholders takes place, the Cutbona jetty entrance gate will not be closed”, Cruz assured.
