Fishing jetties to be upgraded to international standards

NT NETWORK
Posted on 2009-01-20
PANAJI - The Malim, Betul, Cortalim and Chapora fishing jetties are to be upgraded to international standards with expressions of interest to this effect already sent to the Union government, said the Fisheries Minister, Mr Joaquim Alemao on Monday.
He also said that he had asked the captain of ports for a place to set up a parking jetty. “Discussion for the same are on,” he said while speaking at the inaugural of the administrative block of the Mandovi Marketing Co-operative Society opposite the Malim jetty.
Mr Alemao also promised to complete the 50-metre extension of the present jetty as fast as possible and then look into the demand for a further extension to the jetty. “I will also give a bigger budget to Panaji and try and meet all your demands,” he promised.
Earlier, the chairman of the society, Mr Sitakant Parab, making a case for the government to support the industry just like the way it supported agriculture “especially as fish is the cheapest protein,” asked the government for a 500-metre jetty to accommodate the boats that are numbering around 300. He also wanted a separate parking jetty. He also wanted the government to maintain standards and be equipped with all facilities.
Earlier, the director of fisheries, Mr Nanda Kishore Verlekar welcomed the gathering and informed that the top floor of the building would be the society’s office while the ground floor would house a fisheries department office, a bank as well as a meeting room.