South Goa MP wants CBI probe into fishing mafia, cholera crisis

MARGAO
South Goa MP Captain Viriato Fernandes on Saturday called for a probe by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to find out whether a senior official invested black money in fishing boats with the help of a fishing mafia.

The MP also stressed the need to investigate the cause of the cholera outbreak at Cutbona fishing pier, which left five migrant workers dead.

Viriato has also called on Prime Minister Pramod Sawant to dismiss Fisheries Minister Nilkanth Harlarnkar and take action against former Director of Fisheries Dr Shamila Monteiro over the alleged trip to Norway at the expense of taxpayers.

The South Goa MP visited the Cutbona fishing jetty and spoke to residents of Mobor-Cavelossim about the cholera outbreak at the Mobor fishing landing centre.

Asked to comment on allegations that a senior official had invested money in fishing vessels, the MP said the Goa government should hand over the investigations to the CBI to find out the truth in the allegations. There is a need to investigate the benami wealth amassed by officials and the investment, he added.

On the situation at the Cutbona fishing pier, Viriato stressed the need to set up an investigation committee with a clear mandate to find out what happened at the pier and what were the reasons behind the cholera outbreak. “There is a need for a solution to the responsibility. When I went to Mobor-Cavelossim, people told me how the Minister of Fisheries and the former Director of Fisheries had been on a foreign trip. If the government is morally courageous, it should drop the Minister of Fisheries and also take action against the former Director of Fisheries.