Goemkarponn Desk
VASCO: Ahead of the two-month fishing ban, the All Goa Fishing Boat Owners Association (AGFBOA) President and former Minister, Jose Philip D’Souza, has urged the government to reinstate fishing subsidies for boat owners. Speaking to the media on Saturday, D’Souza highlighted the hardships faced by small boat owners following the temporary discontinuation of these subsidies.
“The government used to reimburse the VAT charged on diesel as a subsidy to boat owners, but this has been discontinued for the last two years,” D’Souza stated. “Moreover, previous subsidy amounts pending for many years have not been cleared. This should have been done before discontinuing the subsidy schemes.”
D’Souza emphasized the dire financial situation for boat owners, many of whom struggle to afford fuel and often return from the sea with insufficient catch to cover costs. “The situation is such that many boat owners have stopped venturing into the sea. We may soon see a significant drop in this traditional business of Goa,” he warned.
The AGFBOA President also mentioned that despite meeting with Chief Minister Dr. Pramod Sawant and submitting requests to the government and the fisheries minister, no action has been taken. “We demand that the government immediately agree to our request and restart the fuel subsidies to fishing boat owners. While the Goa government has discontinued the schemes, they continue to be implemented in neighboring states of Karnataka and Maharashtra. We wonder why the fishermen community must struggle only in Goa,” D’Souza questioned.
Additionally, D’Souza expressed concerns over the state of the Kharewado fishing jetty. “The government has spent a lot of money to develop fishing jetties across Goa, but we are struggling with a dilapidated fishing jetty which does not accommodate all our boats. Many times our boats collide, causing extra repair costs,” he noted.
Despite obtaining a no-objection certificate from the Mormugao Port Authority two years ago and assurances from the Union Fishing Minister, no progress has been made. “We have now been informed by the Fisheries Director that they will take up a floating jetty of 100 meters, and I hope it is done on time,” D’Souza concluded.
