Locals demand dredging of Talpona river mouth to prevent repeat incidents
Locals and a coastal police team making futile attempts to pull ashore the fishing boat which capsized in the sea. The boat was later pulled ashore with the help of a JCB.
CANACONA
Six fishermen swam ashore after their fish-laden boat capsized off the Rajbag shore as they were proceeding the Talpona Jetty late Wednesday evening.
According to reports, the fishing boat belonging to Pritesh Kankonkar was returning from the sea loaded with the day’s catch, when the boat gran aground, while negotiating its entry into the narrow mouth of Talpona river to approach the nearby jetty.
Raising an alarm, the six fishermen swiftly jumped out and swam ashore. Responding to their alarm, a number of locals and the coastal police went to their aid.
The locals and a coastal police team then made attempts to pull the capsized boat ashore but when they were unsuccessful, a JCB was pressed into service pull the boat to the shore.
Locals pointed out that heavy sand accumulation along the mouth of Talpona River, which is the main navigational path for fishing vessels to enter the fishing jetty, makes navigation difficult for fishing vessels.
Claiming that a number of fishing boats have run aground in the area in recent years, residents have repeatedly requested authorities to take suitable measures to carry out dredging at the mouth of River Talpona to avert such mishaps.
