The docked trawlers are cramped up at the Malim Jetty.
PORVORIM
When 10 contractors leave a renovation work midway and only 30% of the work is completed in 13 years, it speaks volumes about the condition of the existing infrastructure at the site.
This is the state of affairs at the Malim Jetty, one of the largest jetties in the State, with around 250 trawlers operating from the jetty, as it began a new fishing season on August 1.
The Malim Jetty faces not just infrastructure issues, but many trawler owners based at the jetty have been hit by financial issues on account of delayed reimbursements.
When contacted, Vice–Chairperson of Mandovi Fishermen Marketing Society Ltd, Harshad M Dhond, said the fishing industry is presently reeling under tremendous financial problems.
“The State government has not reimbursed VAT to trawler owners for the last five years. Chief Minister Pramod Sawant and Fisheries Minister Nilkanth Halarnkar has assured in the ongoing assembly session that they would reimburse the pending VAT as early as possible. The industry is fighting for basic survival on all fronts and hence the government should lend us a helping hand in the current situation,” said Dhond.
He informed that some trawler owners are not operating their trawlers due to financial problems. “The State government should seriously look into the problems of trawler owners and resolve them without further delay in order to make fishing a viable business,” said Dhond.
He further highlighted the poor infrastructure at the Malim Jetty. “Renovation work of the existing jetty at Malim has been going on for the last 13 years. Only 30% of the work only has been completed so far and 10 contractors have left the work midway,” said Dhond. “Around 250 trawlers are operating from Malim Jetty and around 125 of them are large trawlers. Due to poor infrastructure, trawler operators find it difficult to anchor their trawlers.”
“Besides, the Mandovi Fishermen Marketing Society Ltd has not been getting sufficient water supply from PWD. We have requested the PWD several times to release water to us, but in vain. We require 40-50 tankers of water every day which we buy from private water suppliers.”
Dhond said they had plans to construct a large water tank with a capacity of 2 lakh litres. “We have submitted a proposal to this effect to the PWD and our file has been moving from one department to another department, but we are yet to receive approval,” said Dhond.
Dhond also pointed out the inadequate space at the auction shed. “The size of the auction shed is only 50 sq. mtrs, making it very difficult to conduct the auction of the fish. The size of this auction shed needs to be increased to 200 sq. mtrs,” said Dhond.
Although the fishing ban ended on July 31, Dhond said not more than 20% of trawlers at Malim Jetty could sail for fishing on August 1, as workers employed on trawlers did not return from their native places. “A majority of workers on these trawlers hail from states such as Odisha, Karnataka, Jharkhand, etc. Presently, only around 10% of workers on trawlers at Malim Jetty have returned and the remaining workers are expected to reach Goa between August 15 and 27.
