Benaulim MLA Venzy Viegas shows mackerels to drive home the point that fishing by traditional fishermen has no fixed timings and that the wholesale fish market ought to be open round the clock. Captured by : Santosh Mirajkar
MARGAO
Demanding that the SGPDA throws open the wholesale market for the traditional fishermen round the clock for sale of fresh fish in wholesale, Benaulim MLA Venzy Viegas has warned of a strike if the government and the SGPDA does not accommodate the traditional fishermen in the wholesale fish market.
Taking up cudgels for the beleaguered fishermen from Benaulim, who have been finding it difficult to sell their fish following the closure the SGPDA market by 10 am, Venzy warned of an agitation and strike if the government and the SGPDA does not resolve the issue to the satisfaction of the traditional fishermen by Monday.
Condemning the SGPDA’s action of driving out the Goan fishermen from selling fish in wholesale at the wholesale fish market, Venzy said the government has woken up from deep slumber to streamline the wholesale fish market after Court’s directives. “We are not against streamlining the market, but it cannot be done at the cost of the traditional fishermen”, he warned.
Making a fervent plea to the Chief Minister Pramod Sawant, Fisheries Minister Nilkhant Halarnkar and SGPDA Chairman, MLA Krishna Daji Salkar to resolve the issue by Monday, Venzy said the fishermen will not be left with any option than to strike.
“A fishing canoe has just landed at the Benaulim shore with baskets full of fish. Where will the fishermen sell their catch. If they are not allowed to sell at the wholesale fish market, then they will be forced to sell the catch to the Verma’s, Reddy’s and Khannas at cheap rates. As it is, the traditional fishermen have no cold storage facilities at Benaulim, Colva and other fish landing centres along the coast”, he said.
Saying the traditional fishermen will strike by shutting the business, Venzy warned that the government will be solely responsible for any loss on account of the strike. “From Cansaulim to Cavelossim, the traditional fishermen are involved in fishing activities. If they don’t get the place to market their product, what is the use of slogging out in the sea to catch fish”, he said, while demanding that the SGPDA should earmark a fixed space at the wholesale fish market only for the traditional fishermen to sell their fish round-the-clock.
