Traditional fishermen from Velim village have raised eyebrows over the Cutbona jetty expansion project taken up by the Fisheries Department, making it amply clear that they will oppose any plans to convert Cutbona as a mini-fishing harbour.
The traditional fishermen, led by Pandhari Kerkar, were on Tuesday scheduled to raise the issue of making Cutbona fishing jetty a mini-harbour as per the plans of the Central government at the meeting of the Cutbona Boat Owners Union held at the jetty on Wednesday morning.
The meeting, which witnessed an uproar over a host of issues, took into account the sentiments of the traditional fishermen who are vehemently opposed to a mini-harbour at Cutbona.
“We are not against the expansion of the Cutbona fishing jetty project undertaken by the government. However, we are firmly opposed to any plans to make Cutbona a mini-harbour. We do not want our village to be converted into a mini-harbour. We want to protect our village,” Kerkar said.
Making it clear that the traditional fishermen have no issue with the construction of the training wall at the mouth of River Sal, Kerkar, however, said that the fishermen will oppose tooth and nail plans for a mini harbour at Cutbona fishing jetty.
“Let the government build the training wall at the mouth of river Sal. This will help in the smooth navigation of the fishing boats operating from Cutbona and Betul fishing jetties,” he said.
President of the Cutbona Boat Owners Union Savio D’Silva later told the media that the general body meeting of the Union had resolved not to allow any more unions or societies at Cutbona fishing jetty.
“Already, there are two societies at Cutbona. We will not allow any more societies. If any boat owner forms new societies, let them go to their villages and form the societies and not in Cutbona,” Savio said.
Asked to shed light on the demand made by traditional fishermen from Velim opposing a mini harbour at Cutbona, Savio said the fishermen have raised a valid point as to how the project is being undertaken without an NOC from the panchayat body and the environment clearance report.
“The fishermen suspect that the government has changed the name of the project from a mini harbour to jetty expansion,” Savio said, while demanding that the government come clear on the issue.
He denied that there was any clash at the meeting between the members, but conceded that deliberations had generated much heat during the course of the meeting.
