CANACONA
Apologising on behalf of the government to the fishermen after they were attacked by Karnataka fishing trawlers off the Canacona coast last week, Dy Speaker and Canacona MLA Isidore Fernandes assured to resolve the matter with authorities in the State.
Addressing a meeting with the agitated fishermen in Talpona, Fernandes also promised to get the Coastal Police boat repaired soon.
“As soon as your panch informed me about the issue, I called up director of fisheries and voiced my anger. When outsiders come and take away the livelihood of our poor people, why do we need the department? These were my words to to the director,” said Fernandes.
“I will take up the proposal to repair the Coastal Police boat. I will seek an appointment with Chief Minister Pramod Sawant and also request him to hold a meeting with Karwar MLA and Canacona MLA and along with representatives of affected communities on both sides.”
“Give me a few days and I assure to deliver results over the non-functional Coastal police boat and the Coastal Police.”
Earlier, General Secretary of National Fishworkers Forum and Goenchea Ramponkarancho Ekvott Olencio Simoes, blamed the government after the Talpona fishermen were targetted by the Karnataka fishing trawlers and demanded timely action by authorities.
Vasco-based traditional fishing leader Custodio D’Souza also lashed out at the government over the incident last week.
GPCC General Secretary Janardhan Bhandari, Canacona Congress Block President Prahlay Bhagat, AAP activist Adv Anup Kurtarkar, Ratnakar Dhuri, Diwakar Pagui, All Goa Kshetriya Pagi Samaj president Ashok Dhuri, Majali/Devbjag (Karwar) traditional fishermen leader Devraj Sail, Gabit Samaj president Tulsidas Thakkar and others also spoke at the meeting.
Almost all of them blamed the government for allowing interstate fishing vessels to illegally fish in Goan waters and that too, within the no mechanised fishing zone.
