Can’t allot Benaulim land to fisherfolk: Fisheries minister | Goa News

Porvorim: Fisheries minister Nilkanth Harlankar informed the state assembly on Friday that the land at Benaulim cannot be allotted to the local fishing community.
In response to the question tabled by Fatorda MLA Vijai Sardesai, seeking to know if local fishermen had requested govt to hand over the 10,000sqm of land at Benaulim for fishing activities, and the status of the proposal, the fisheries minister revealed govt’s plan to the subject land.
In a written reply, Halarnkar said the fisheries department had received a request in Dec 2023 from a fisherman, Fransisco Fernandes, to allot the land for fishing activities. Fernandes was informed that since the land was reserved for the revival of the shrimp and fin fish hatchery through a public-private partnership (PPP) mode, it could not be allocated to fishermen.
Govt has spent Rs 7.5 lakh towards the preparation of a report for technical services and pre-operational activities necessary for the establishment of the hatchery, the reply stated. “They are currently in the process of preparing the tender documents, including the request for proposal and concession agreement,” he said.
Fishermen in Benaulim have long relied on a portion of the land at the defunct hatchery for storing their fishing canoes and drying nets. The fishermen are worried that they would lose access to the storage facility if govt proceeds with its plan.
Last month, TOI had reported when the fisheries department had announced plans to revive the defunct prawn hatchery.