VASCO
The serene stretch of the highway between Cortalim and Vasco with calm water bodies on its sides have now turned into an eyesore. This stretch has also turned into an accident-prone zone with the construction of four-lane extension work and people buying fish at a particular spot on the same stretch of the highway.
As monsoon season starts, migrants seem to appear and reside in makeshift shanties. Some concerned locals alleged that the migrants also dirty the place as they don't have facilities
to bathe nor do they have toilets. The migrants sell fish at a cheaper rates and the people without caring for their lives rush to buy the fresh fish on offer at rock bottom prices.
"While the female migrants are cooking in shanties, their kids are playing dangerously on the highway. The migrants appear from nowhere and start selling fish. The people also cause a traffic jam at times with vehicles parked on both the sides of the road," said a nearby resident on condition of anonymity.
"Every year around monsoon, these people appear and create dirt around by bathing and excreting in corners of the roads. The only time our traditional fishermen can make some extra money is in the rains and these migrants eat up into the business. Disputes arise among the fishermen as the nets put by them in the rivers are stolen by these migrants," said the resident.
RTI activist Narayan Naik said: "The panchayat has turned a blind eye and this is the situation that arises every year. These migrants disappear after the rainy season with good money that the traditional fishermen would have made otherwise." It may be recalled that this stretch of the road is busy with speeding vehicles that travel between airport and other destinations, especially in the afternoon. A lot of heavy vehicles and public transport move along the stretch as it is the only road connecting Vasco to the Cortalim junction.
"I wonder who has given them permission to occupy the roadside and create problems for traditional fishermen and traffic issues for general public. The panchayat should take note of this and strict action needs to be initiated against them," said another traditional fisherman Philip D'Souza.
"While the female migrants are cooking in shanties, their kids are playing dangerously on the highway. The migrants appear from nowhere and start selling fish. The people also cause a traffic jam at times with vehicles parked on both the sides of the road," said a nearby resident on condition of anonymity.
"Every year around monsoon, these people appear and create dirt around by bathing and excreting in corners of the roads. The only time our traditional fishermen can make some extra money is in the rains and these migrants eat up into the business. Disputes arise among the fishermen as the nets put by them in the rivers are stolen by these migrants," said the resident.
RTI activist Narayan Naik said: "The panchayat has turned a blind eye and this is the situation that arises every year. These migrants disappear after the rainy season with good money that the traditional fishermen would have made otherwise." It may be recalled that this stretch of the road is busy with speeding vehicles that travel between airport and other destinations, especially in the afternoon. A lot of heavy vehicles and public transport move along the stretch as it is the only road connecting Vasco to the Cortalim junction.
"I wonder who has given them permission to occupy the roadside and create problems for traditional fishermen and traffic issues for general public. The panchayat should take note of this and strict action needs to be initiated against them," said another traditional fisherman Philip D'Souza.
