Panaji: Purse seine boat owners have urged govt to address a series of financial and infrastructure-related issues as the annual fishing season begins.All Goa Purse Seine Boat Owners Association president Harshad Dhond said the association had met fisheries minister Nilkanth Halarnkar and submitted a memorandum seeking urgent intervention on issues affecting the sector.“The major demand is the resumption of the VAT reimbursement subsidy; else our boats will have to be anchored,” said Dhond.Boat owners also sought a regular water supply at the jetty, saying they need 40–50 tanker-loads daily for operations. They demanded permanent water storage facilities at the jetty to meet the requirement.They also demanded urgent dredging of the Mandovi river near the jetty to avoid damage to vessels during docking.Dhond said the jetty rent was increased from Rs 25 lakh to Rs 37 lakh, placing an additional burden of Rs 12 lakh on boat owners.Halarnkar said the fisheries department does not independently determine the rent. “PWD assesses the infrastructure based on its measurements, construction and nature, including whether it is an RCC or fabricated structure, before arriving at a valuation. Any rent revision is based on the PWD’s assessment. If the boat owners sought reconsideration of the revised rent, their request would have to be processed through the appropriate departments, including finance, wherever necessary,” the minister said.Regarding the demand for water supply and river dredging, Halarnkar said he has directed the engineers concerned to take up the matter.Despite the fishing season reopening on Aug 1 after the 61-day ban, most of Goa’s mechanised fishing fleet remains anchored due to rough monsoon seas.Boat owners said only a small number of migrant workers have returned. With operators waiting for calmer seas and the full workforce yet to arrive, mechanised vessels are expected to resume full-scale operations only by mid-Aug.
