Karwar: Fishermen associations have once again opposed providing land on Rabindranath Tagore beach in Karwar to park the Hovercraft of the Indian Coast Guard.

The fishermen expressed their opposition during a meeting of the officers and fishermen leaders held at the Coast Guard office in Araga on Monday evening.

The meeting had been called by the Deputy Director of Fisheries Department Nagaraj to discuss various issues related to the safety and security of the fishermen. During the meeting, Nagaraj convened the message of the Coast Guard to the fishermen. He said that the Coast Guard has planned to park the Hovercraft in the land reserved for the Indian Coast Guard on the Karwar beach.

“Space for parking the Hovercraft on Rabindranath Tagore Beach should not be allowed in any case. This opposition is there since the year 2013. Inspite of that, demand for some space surfaces every now and then. In days to come, the Coast Guard might demand some more land on Karwar beach to expand its activities and may leave no space for us. Hence, let the Coast Guard look for some alternative land for parking the Hovercraft,” the fishermen said.

Uttara Kannada District Co-operative Fish Sellers’ Federation President Ganapathi Mangre, Karwar-Ankola Trawl boat Union President Chitrangad Tandel and others attended the meeting.