NT NETWORK

Vasco

The newly elected president of Goa Barge Owners Association (GBAO) William D’Costa have disclosed that the Chief Minister Pramod Sawant have assured the members of the association to give waiver to the ‘barge tax’, giving relief to the barge owners with financial crisis hovering over them, following the closure of mining industry in the state from 2012.

Addressing a press conference in Vasco on Wednesday, D’Costa told that GBOA has appointed 7-members new committee for the year 2019-20 which includes Osric Cabral as vice president, Noel Carvalho as secretary, Rahul Naik as treasurer and Prabhakar Naik, Ramakant Kudapkar and Mayuresh Arolkar as members.

The new committee has been elected following due process as per the constitution of GBOA, said D’Costa.

He pointed out that the election for the GBOA was not held since June 2018, due to which all the affairs of the association had come to a standstill.

“The new executive committee will strive their utmost to address the problems faced by the barge owners”, said D’Costa and have further opined that the newly elected committee of GBOA will work with the central and the state government, Goa Mineral Ore Exporters Association and other authorities to strive for commencement of mining in Goa so as to ensure the survival of barge industry.

“The inland water transport industry in Goa is dying and has to be revived. From 304 vessels in 2012, the number of operating vessels in Goa owned by GBOA members as on date is only 76. The barge owners were compelled to resort to desperate measures to meet their liabilities such as scraping and distress sale of their barges. Very few barges found business outside Goa”, said D’Costa.

He maintained that that newly elected committee would take up loan issue in order to find a solution to the problem.

“Some barge owners are still having loan liabilities. Loanees of cooperative banks especially are in the lurch as these banks have not extended any relief to the loanees as done by the nationalised banks”, said D’Costa.

He has appealed the Chief Minister Sawant and Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi to take all necessary steps for early resumption of mining in the state. “GBOA is optimistic about government in re-starting the mining in the state. Due to distress, the barge owners were forced to sell their vessels, while others are lying scrapped along the bank of river Zuari”, he added.

He also has appealed the members of the GBOA to remain united in order to resolve their issues.

When asked whether the members of the GBOA have supported BJP in the Lok Sabha elections, D’Costa told that “The association has not influenced any members to vote for any political parties. The members have voted according to their choice. If they have a will (for BJP), they will re-start the mining at the earliest.”