MARGAO
The government appears to be in no mood to keep on hold the proposal on the revival of the defunct Benaulim hatchery under the Public Private Partnership (PPP) model in times of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Instead of calling the stakeholders, including traditional fishermen for discussion on the controversial proposal which has raised many an eyebrow amongst the Benaulim villagers, the Fisheries Department has decided to forward the suggestions and objections received from the fishermen and others to the PPP cell for a study.
This has only raised questions whether the PPP cell will do justice to the stakeholders, including the traditional fishermen, who have staked a claim on a portion of the 10-acre Benaulim hatchery land.
Sources also expressed their surprise over the decision of the Fisheries Department to invite the Expression of Interest (EoI) when the state and the country are affected by the Covid-19 pandemic.
When The Goan called up Fisheries Minister Filipe Neri Rodrigues to shed light on the hatchery revival project, he said the PPP cell will examine the issues raised by the stakeholders, including the traditional fishermen, to the hatchery revival project under the PPP model.
“All the suggestions and objections received by the Fisheries Department from the stakeholders, including the traditional fishermen, are being forwarded to the PPP cell with a request to examine the same,” Filipe said, adding the department will wait for the cell to examine the issue and report back.
Benaulim villagers, including the traditional fishermen, have been anxiously waiting for the government to place before the public the exact plan of action vis-à-vis the development of the Benaulim hatchery.
The Benaulim hatchery was set up on land admeasuring 10 acres as a pilot project in the early 90s to make available shrimp seeds for the farmers in the state of Goa and outside. The hatchery was in demand during the initial years, with farmers from Goa and outside getting their seed requirement from Benaulim before the unit went into the red.
Take note, Fisheries Director Dr Shamila Monteiro has sought to reassure that the hatchery land admeasuring 10 acres will only be used for shrimp and finfish hatchery, but Benaulikars are waiting for the Fisheries Department to unveil the names of the parties, whether hailing from Goa or outside and the nature of proposals they have come up.
