Fishermen want roof over new parking lot at Baga

Calangute: Fishermen in Baga have asked the government to provide them with a roof over the new parking lot for boats at Baga. Sources said that the state government had recently earmarked a 5,250sqm plot of land alongside the Baga river to construct a ramp for fishermen and watersports operators to berth their boats and to unload the fish catch. While the new ramps, two each of 40m length each, separated by a riverside retaining wall, are nearing completion at a cost of Rs 1.08 crore, the entire space is open to the elements.
Speaking to TOI, fishermen and watersports operators said they had constructed a small ramp at the spot more than two decades ago, which had become insufficient because of the large number of new boats. But, they had been unable to construct a new, larger ramp because the land there belongs to the Goa tourism development corporation, and also because of CRZ restrictions.
During a recent visit, tourism minister Dilip Parulekar had assured the fishermen and watersports operators that he would undertake the ramp work as part of the Baga beautification project. With the ramp now getting ready, the fishermen and watersports operators have now demanded that the government cover the entire area with a roof so as to provide shade and shelter during the rains.
"We will be keeping the boats covered during the rains, but we will also be undertaking work like repairs of boats and nets during the off season. A roof above the area would give us shelter from the rains and also provide shade during the summer months," Jose, a fishermen said.
Calangute MLA Michael Lobo has assured to take up the demand with the government. "The government has fulfilled their long-pending demand for a ramp and space to keep their boats and nets by giving them a plot of 5,250 sqm," Lobo said, adding, "We are right now building the demarcation wall and the ramps. They have asked for a covering over the area which I am sure the government will provide."