VASCO
Fisheries Minister Nilkanth Halarnkar on Saturday assured to take up the long-pending demand of having a temporary extension to the dilapidated Kharewado fishing jetty to accommodate all boats operating from Kharewaddo and to clear pending subsidies.
Halarnkar was addressing a gathering after launching the repair and maintenance works of the dilapidated Kharewado fishing jetty through the WRD in the presence of Vasco MLA Krishna Salkar, All Goa Fishing Boat Owners Association president Jose Philip D'Souza, Mormugao Municipal Council Chairperson Leo Rodrigues and others.
Salkar had earlier raised a demand during the assembly session seeking the intervention of the government towards the dilapidated jetty to safeguard the business interest of the Vasco-based fishermen.
"Salkar had approached me after which I issued the work order of around Rs 31 lakh following a tender for the works here. The main issue is that the jetty is under the MPA jurisdiction, which is a Central government institution, and we need to continuously follow up with them from time to time.”
“We have presently taken up repair works of the jetty after which we will take up the issue of the extension of the jetty. The extension works need clearances from the port and CRZ, and I have also spoken to Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on these issues. We now need NOCs from the MPA and GCZMA, after which we can take up extension work under the GSIDC as a permanent solution.”
He informed that the State government is carrying out maintenance work and a proposal will be put up to hand over the Kharewaddo jetty permanently to the government.
“As far as subsidies are concerned, the government did not have funds amid the Covid pandemic and closure of mining operations, but I assure that subsidies will be released from time to time," said Halarnkar.
Repairs first, extension can come later: Salkar
VASCO:
Vasco MLA Krishna Salkar said the top priority was the repair of the dilapidated Kharewado fishing jetty.
"The extension may take time, but repair is a must at this point and the minister was quick to issue us a work order to launch repair works,” said Salkar.
“The government will have to provide a 75-metre extension to the existing fishing jetty to safeguard and support their business. I will also get Chief Minister Pramod Sawant for another inspection so that he can, if required, take up issues faced by fishermen in Kharewaddo with the MPA as well," said Salkar.
