MAPUSA
Fisheries Minister Vinoda Paliencar was all at sea while trying to fend questions on rising fish cost and issues at Cutbona jetty.
Catching the minister on the wrong foot, Curchorem MLA Nilesh Cabral said that the fisheries minister has given a funny reply to one of his questions claiming there were three registered cooperative societies at Cutbona jetty but only two of them were valid.
“The minister admits that there is one illegal society operating at the jetty when he said only two societies have valid registration certificate while the Cutbona Boat Owners Development Society Ltd has not renewed its registration certificate,” Cabral said.
“When the society has not been registered, how can the minister give it legal sanctity in his reply to the House,” he added.
He said the fisheries department should not allow the society to operate until it renews its licence and sought categorical reply from the minister.
“I will examine the issue raised by the MLA and will take an appropriate decision in the matter,” Paliencar assured.
The Curchorem MLA also said that Goans did not get adequate supply of fish and wanted an assurance from the minister that everyone will be allowed to buy and sell fish at the jetty.
“King fish is exported to Singagpore for Rs 350 a kilo but the same fish is available here at Rs 450. Where is the Goenkarponn?” a combative Cabral questioned in the House.
Paliencar responded saying price control was not in the hands of the fisheries department but with the civil supplies.
Raising the fear of law and order problem at Cutbona Jetty, Velim MLA Filipe Neri Rodrigues said there were various lobbies among the fishing societies and fishing agents and expressed concern that anytime violence could erupt in the area
He said large trucks moved through the narrow village roads while proceeding to the jetty and expressed the need to improve infrastructure in the area.
The fisheries minister said that his department does not recognize any agents and that anyone was allowed to buy and sell fish at the jetties.
“If there is any problem, people are free to file police complaints,” Paliencar said. Benaulim MLA, Churchill MLA and Vasco MLA, Carlos Almeida also raised several questions.
