VASCO
A golden opportunity slipped through the fingers of Kharewaddo’s fishing community nearly a decade ago.
A Rs 100 crore state-of-the-art fishing jetty, part of the ambitious Vasco Bay Development Plan, was set to transform the local fishing industry. But politics, delays, and missed commitments buried the dream. That is, until now.
The project
Sometime around 2016, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari had visited Kharewaddo to launch the much-anticipated fishing jetty project. The plan, spearheaded by the Mormugao Port Authority (MPA), envisioned a 520-metre-long finger quay, a Petroleum Oil Lubricant (POL) berth, and a modern fishing harbour, all separated by a security wall.
The fishing jetty itself, spread across 22,000 sq mtrs, was to be a first-of-its-kind in Goa, offering essential facilities such as a communication office, canteen, ice plant, petrol pump, and workmen rest sheds.
Speaking to The Goan, a fishing boat owner speaking on condition of anonymity described the project as a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for Kharewaddo’s fishermen.
"The plan was perfect. A straight, perpendicular pier jetty in the middle of Vasco Bay. The left side for MPA, the right side till the Hindu Crematorium for fishing boats and canoes. It was designed to benefit the community. But then, politics got in the way,” lamented the boat owner.
Hope turns to
disappointment
According to the fisherman, the first deadlock was the demolition of existing structures along the coastline.
After a series of meetings, MPA assured affected families that each demolished structure would be replaced with a 50 sq mtr plot and that MPA would even assist in rebuilding sheds. Despite these assurances, political interference led to a stalemate.
"A former MLA did not want the project to happen under the new MLA. It became a political issue, and the entire plan fell apart,” said the fisherman.
Even with central intervention, the project faced another roadblock: a last-minute withdrawal by the canoe owners’ association.
"We had a function planned, and even the MoU was ready. But at the last moment, the canoe owners, misled by a politician, backed out. Gadkari waited for a long time, but they never turned up. That was the end of it,” the boat owner said.
Despite the setback, the MoU had guaranteed that no shanties or structures along the Kharewaddo stretch would be touched without first providing alternative plots.
In fact, fishermen had personally worked on the blueprint to ensure minimal displacement. The project even had backing of then chief minister late Manohar Parrikar, who arranged initial funding, with additional costs covered under the Sagarmala project.
"The deal was fair. Those with structures smaller than 20 metres would get larger 50-square-metre plots, legal cases against them would be withdrawn, and they would get MPA’s support to rebuild. We had planned for over 250 canoes, while only 100 were operating at the time. It was a golden opportunity that we lost."
New hope for
Vasco Bay?
Nearly a decade later, MPA Chairman Dr N Vinod Kumar has confirmed the revived plans for multiple berths under the Vasco Bay Infrastructure Project.
"We are taking up the construction of a fishing jetty (Rs 100 crore), a passenger jetty (Rs 21 crore), a berth for the Navy and Coast Guard (Rs 250 crore), and a coastal cargo berth (Rs 200 crore). These projects are expected to be completed by 2029-2030."
MPA has hired consultants, and their report will be ready in six months. By the end of this year, the project file is expected to be resubmitted for approvals.
However, bureaucracy remains a hurdle. The Coastal Zone Management Plan (CZMP) delays, environmental clearance expirations, and fresh approval requirements have stalled progress.
Land availability also remains a concern. The State government and MPA have signed an MoU with fishing associations to rehabilitate 35-40 households, a crucial step for the project’s execution.
The Defence Ministry is also pressing forward with plans for Coast Guard and Navy berths.
"We have had discussions with the State government, and by the end of this year, we should have a clearer picture. The Defence Ministry is keen, and we are hopeful that this time, the project will become a reality," said Dr Kumar.
For the fishermen of Kharewaddo, the wounds of a lost opportunity still linger. But with renewed efforts, will MPA and the government finally deliver on a promise made years ago? Until then, the fishermen of Kharewaddo can only wait and hope.
