VASCO
NCP State President Jose Philip D'Souza, who was unanimously re-elected as president of All Goa Fishing Boat Owners Association for a third successive tenure, has stated that the reimbursement of VAT on diesel has been pending for two years, causing a lot of hardships to fishermen and boat owners.
Speaking to reporters after the executive committee meeting, D’Souza also demanded that the existing fishing jetty at Kharewado which is in a dilapidated condition be maintained and extended by another 50-100 metres to accommodate all fishing boats operating at Vasco.
"The government offers a reimbursement of VAT on diesel as a subsidy but this reimbursement has been pending for the last two years. While the VAT reimbursement should be done in the Rs 20 slab, it is calculated on the lowest slab and we are offered Rs 6 per litre and the remaining money is retained by the Government,” said D’Souza.
“We had placed a proposal to reimburse us the entire VAT amount because every boat owner takes a risk of loading around 5,000 litres of fuel worth around Rs 5 lakh before venturing into the sea. If there is no good catch, he suffers huge losses.”
D’Souza has requested the State government to clear all pending subsidies or to reimburse the subsidy on time to help the fishing community survive in the business.
"We had also requested the government to give us an extension of the existing fishing jetty and the proposal was readied by the Government and is with the fisheries department as of now.” “We face extreme difficulty to accommodate around 200 fishing boats in the existing jetty and very often, boats which arrive with fresh catch have to wait out in the sea till others boats can unload their catch of fish, because only ten boats can unload fish at one time on this jetty.”
“Boats often brush against each other in the congested jetty and get damaged. This existing jetty is insufficient for our boats. The jetty is also in dilapidated condition and poses great dangers to vehicles arriving at the jetty and people working on fishing boats,” said D'Souza.
He informed that the GFBOA had formed a new committee about a week ago and had its first executive meeting of the new committee to discuss various issues pertaining to the association.
“Our main issues are on the maintenance of the jetty and repair of boats in the fishing ban period so as to gear up for the next fishing season. We also passed our estimate of the maintenance works and these works will begin soon.”
“We urge the fisheries department to take up maintenance of this jetty. We will not be able to carry out fishing activity this season if the existing dilapidated jetty is not maintained this year,” said D'Souza.
Speaking to reporters after the executive committee meeting, D’Souza also demanded that the existing fishing jetty at Kharewado which is in a dilapidated condition be maintained and extended by another 50-100 metres to accommodate all fishing boats operating at Vasco.
"The government offers a reimbursement of VAT on diesel as a subsidy but this reimbursement has been pending for the last two years. While the VAT reimbursement should be done in the Rs 20 slab, it is calculated on the lowest slab and we are offered Rs 6 per litre and the remaining money is retained by the Government,” said D’Souza.
“We had placed a proposal to reimburse us the entire VAT amount because every boat owner takes a risk of loading around 5,000 litres of fuel worth around Rs 5 lakh before venturing into the sea. If there is no good catch, he suffers huge losses.”
D’Souza has requested the State government to clear all pending subsidies or to reimburse the subsidy on time to help the fishing community survive in the business.
"We had also requested the government to give us an extension of the existing fishing jetty and the proposal was readied by the Government and is with the fisheries department as of now.” “We face extreme difficulty to accommodate around 200 fishing boats in the existing jetty and very often, boats which arrive with fresh catch have to wait out in the sea till others boats can unload their catch of fish, because only ten boats can unload fish at one time on this jetty.”
“Boats often brush against each other in the congested jetty and get damaged. This existing jetty is insufficient for our boats. The jetty is also in dilapidated condition and poses great dangers to vehicles arriving at the jetty and people working on fishing boats,” said D'Souza.
He informed that the GFBOA had formed a new committee about a week ago and had its first executive meeting of the new committee to discuss various issues pertaining to the association.
“Our main issues are on the maintenance of the jetty and repair of boats in the fishing ban period so as to gear up for the next fishing season. We also passed our estimate of the maintenance works and these works will begin soon.”
“We urge the fisheries department to take up maintenance of this jetty. We will not be able to carry out fishing activity this season if the existing dilapidated jetty is not maintained this year,” said D'Souza.
