PANJIM: Goan fisheremn have been raising their voices over the non-Goan trawlers invading Goan waters for fishing, leaving nothing to the traditional fishermen. On Wednesday, the coastal police and fisherman Pele caught Malpe trawler at Benaulim stealing fish, using Pele’s speed boat and life jackets. In this edition of street voices, Herald TV spoke to people on coastal police taking help of private boats to track illegal fishing by trawlers, and whether it is a sad reflection of state coastal police’s preparedness.
The Coastal Police is ill equipped. They have boats which are not functioning. I don’t understand why they are keeping them. The question is, in such a scenario, is not our coastal area porous to terrorism? Have we learnt a lesson from what happened in Mumbai? I hope the Home Minister looks into this since it concerns the security of our state and nation.
If you cant trap ordinary fishing trawlers, how will you deal with terrorists who come fully equipped and sophisticated boats? They can come anything and attack any citizen. The flip side however is, when you take the help of the citizens, crimes can be detected, crimes can be arrested.Trajano D'Mello Political Commentator
The coastal police had to take the help of private boat owners. It means they don’t have that infrastructure and Pele from Benaulim has asked for more patrol boats. State government is sending a message indirectly that we don’t have coastal boats, give us your private boats and then we are going to do our work.
What is the state of affairs in Goa. Looks like gradually even the coastal police will be privatised. Just like due to shortage of police, bouncers are being deployed. We don’t understand what other things they will privatise. The state of affairs in Goa has touched the nadir. Goa state has become a banana republic.Anthony Da Silva, Social Activist
The speed boats that were given to the Coastal Police for rescue or any other emergency. Yesterday we saw the Malpe trawlers intruded into Goan water at Benaulim. It’s only after the fisherman complained that the Coastal Police went to catch them. But they had to take the help of private speed boat to nab the culprits. Why is this the case?
We see Coastal police boats in Cortalim and Panjim. But what are the crafts doing? Or are they not working? Even after spending crores why is the Coastal Police not using these boats for coastal security? The government has to answer this question.Xencor Polgi Social Activist