Panaji: Goa Chief minister Manohar Parrikar will personally visit a fishing beach village to probe allegations by fishermen of harassment by naval officers, he told the Goa assembly Friday.
Parrikar's assurance of a personal inspection follows a calling attention motion tabled by Congress legislator from Dabolim, Mauvin Godinho.
The legislator said that traditional fishing families along the Vaddem beach, near the port town of Vasco, 35 kms from here, were being threatened by naval authorities against fishing in the waters off the beach.
"The fishermen are being threatened by gun point by the naval authorities. They are not even allowed to stand on the beach," Godinho said.
"What are these traditional families going to do for a living if they are not allowed to fish?" the legislator asked.
Godinho was referring to a continuous conflict between the traditional fishermen and personnel from the naval base INS Gomantak, who have been accused of bullying fishermen, who use canoes for fishing.
"Let's visit the village ourselves and see what can be done about the plight of the fishermen," Parrikar told the House.
IANS
First Published: Friday, February 01, 2013, 15:47