Traditional Fishermen’s Association President Custodio D'Souza while submitting the list of demands to MMC Chairperson Leo Rodrigues.
Photo Credits: Vikram Nayak
VASCO
The Vasco-based Traditional Fishermen’s Association led by its President Custodio D'Souza met Mormugao Municipal Council (MMC) Chairperson Leo Rodrigues on Wednesday afternoon in connection with demands placed during Fisheries Minister Nilkanth Halarnkar’s visit to Mormugao as part of the ‘Prashasan Tumchya Daari’ initiative.
Speaking to reporters, D'Souza said a list of demands had been presented to the fisheries minister.
"Traditional Fishermen from Vasco have been placing a lot of demands before the fisheries department and the government. We had placed demands for a net bending shed, boat repairs yard, office for fish agents and a fishing ramp, etc. for a very long time but the Government did not pay heed to our demands,” said D’Souza.
While Fisheries Minister Nilkanth Halarnkar had arrived here, Mormugao MLA Sankalp Amonkar gave us an opportunity to meet him and we told him that Vasco traditional fishermen have no facilities at all. The minister and the fisheries department have now told us to meet the MMC and we have met the MMC Chairperson Leo Rodrigues in this connection," said D’Souza.
"Rodrigues told us to identify land for the space to meet our demands and we have told him that we have identified land along with a survey number and chalta number. We will also give them the entire survey plan to the MMC so that they can then follow up and meet our demands," said D'Souza.
When contacted, MMC Chairperson Leo Rodrigues said the council had received a letter from the fisheries department to help the fishermen society with a list of demands and the letter was placed before the council meeting.
"The council decided that the fishermen must identify a land and give us their proposals and plans so that the MMC can meet their demands. The traditional fishermen have a lot of demands and we want to place their list of demands and their proposal before the council meeting.”
“We had called them so that they can explain to us in details which they have done. We will try and get their demands fulfilled," said Rodrigues.
