The half decade old vexed issue of Khariwado Jetty in Vasco which earlier used to polarize the votes has been stuck down from the list of election planks. All this because this issue has finally seen a resolution with all the stake holders including state government, Mormugao Port Trust( MPT) and Goa Fishing Boat owners Association (GFBOA) having come to a consensus. Interestingly these issues had high significance during 2012 assembly polls. At that time local fishermen were upset with the way the previous state government was dragging its feet in order to resolve the issue. The BJP which was in opposition, approached these fishing community people and gave concrete assurance that they would amicably resolve this long pending issue, once voted to power. After forming government on March 2012, BJP started working on its promise to resolve this complex issue, however even after a series of joint meetings with MPT and fishermen community, the issue remained unsolved until MPT got a new chairman. Fishermen community leaders from Kharewado, felt that things started falling in place when new MPT chairman P Mara Pandiyan and BJP government together started making some efforts to solve the problem amicably. However, this hit a road block when relations between MPT and the state government suffered a road block. While Pandiyan was abruptly transferred in the year 2014, it was then the new Chairman I Jeyakumar stepped into shoes of Pandiyan and started making efforts by giving special attention to Khariwado jetty and fishermen structures issue due to which MPT’s expansion plan was held up. I want to resolve the Khariwado jetty issue amicably as MPT wants to progress along with the people Jeyakumar had said to media in his first interview after taking over as MPT chairman on September 2015. Thereafter, MPT then made a proposal for development of Vasco bay and development of fishing jetty for fishermen community at Khariwado, besides protecting the existing houses and finally with clear intensions Jeyakumar managed to Cap the four decade old issue by signing the tri-party agreement. CANOE OWNERS NOT CONVINCED Though the trawlers owners are happy that their major issue is getting settled finally, however the canoe owners from Khariwado are not convinced with the way MoU for development of Vasco bay plans have been prepared. According to Old Cross Fishing Canoe Owners Cooperative Society (OCFCOCS) they had tabled set of demands however the same were not mentioned in the MoU refused to sign the same. we had submitted our demands however as the same remained unfulfilled we did not signed the MoU said OCFCOCS president Custodio D’ Souza. Likewise, canoe owners even the state NCP president Jose Philip D’ Souza who is also a local resident from Khariwado feels that the issue is not solved completely. As per D’ Souza,”if at all MPT wants to help the fishermen community then MPT should first withdraw the case filed against the 363 structures at Khariwado and until MPT does the same the issue of Khariwado structures is still not closed”. On the other hand, MPT Chairman I Jeyakumar has claimed that the MoU which has been signed has an understanding that MPT would not pursue the case filed before court in the mater pertaining to Khariwado structures. MPT has already given directions to their advocates, not to pursue the case and once MPT starts constructing the compound wall near proposed fishing harbour, then they will withdraw the case. What is important to note here is that, politically the fishermen community from Khariwado is not having interested in having any direct political affiliations, nor do they want to openly support any political outfit or leaders. Individually as voters they may have their own choice, still political leaders has always tried to use these fishermen community.
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