VASCO: The fishermen at Katem-Baina and Baina beach belt have strongly opposed to the proposed fishing jetty at Katem-Baina.

They fear that their traditional fishing business would be affected to a great extent with the construction of the jetty there besides they are apprehending their displacement from the area.

The fishermen of Katem-Baina and Baina seashore, affiliated to two unions, on Tuesday held a joint meeting with the convener of the Goenchea Raponkarancho Ekvott, Mr Matanhy Saldanha, Mormugao MLA, Mr Milind Naik, the director of fisheries department, Mr Santosh Verenkar, local ward councilor, Mr Sebastiao D’Souza, and officials of the Mormugao Port Trust.

The Revenue Minister, Mr Jose Philip D’Souza arrived at the meeting venue later, incidentally, he had come to participate in a function at Katem-Baina.

Speaking to media, Mr Saldanha said that the proposed jetty for the fishermen of Khariwada would lead to a cumulative impact along the Baina belt.

He further said that the jetty would not serve the interest of the local fishermen, who are involved in the fish trade for the last several years, adding the welfare of the local fishing community would be affected.

"We don’t want to grow slums anymore and the fishing community members will not tolerate any monopoly of the port authorities in the state of Goa," the leader of the fishing community remarked.

If the Government of India and MPT want to protect the interest of the people of Goa then they have to listen to the problems faced by them and thereafter take the decisions, he added.

The local fishermen, anticipating soil erosion, are objecting to the move of the MPT to construct a fishing jetty at the present site at Katem-Baina, but have got no objection if the jetty is constructed at Tariwada, Bogda.

Meanwhile, Mr Saldanha has demanded for the ecological and hydrological study of the islands off Baina beach and the total beach belt before taking any step to construct the proposed fishing jetty.

The Mormugao MLA, Mr Milind Naik and Revenue Minister, Mr Jose Philip D’Souza stated that they are with the people and would not force the project on the fishing community at Katem-Baina.

It may be recalled that as per the agreement signed between the government of Goa, MPT and the Goa Fishing Boat Owners Association, Vasco, it was decided to construct a modernised fishing jetty for the Khariwada fishermen at Katem-Baina.