*Goa Barge Owners’ Association elects new committee, hopeful of mining revival*

Vasco:The Goa Barge Owners’ Association (GBOA), during its Extraordinary General Body Meeting held on April 26, 2025, constituted a new managing committee to oversee the welfare of its members for the term 2025-26. The newly elected committee met on May 2, 2025, and officially took charge.The new office bearers include Chandrakant Gawas as President, Derrick Vales as Vice President, Alex Coutinho as General Secretary, and Mahendra (Mayur) Parsekar as Treasurer. The committee also includes Rahul Naik, Priyesh Kamat, and Rohit Parab as members.The new committee expressed optimism about the resumption of mining activities in the state, which has long been the backbone of the barge industry in Goa. President Chandrakant Gawas stated that the revival of mining could bring renewed opportunities for employment and economic growth, and the association is hopeful that better days lie ahead for barge operators.The GBOA reaffirmed its commitment to working closely with government authorities and other stakeholders to ensure the sustainable revival of mining and the smooth functioning of Goa’s maritime logistics sector.