MARGAO
With clams and mussels making their presence at the river Sal, around the Ambelim-Cutbona-Betul stretch, traditional fishermen and local MLA Velim MLA Cruz Silva sounded caution while executing the river Sal desilting project.
Sunday saw the Velim MLA accompanied by a delegation of traditional fishermen and the contractor descending on the banks of river Sal at Betul to explore the possibility of executing the third and final phase of river Sal desilting.
Both the traditional fishermen and the MLA drew the attention of the contractor to the stretches in the river Sal, which has seen the presence of clams and mussels in sizeable numbers. Traditional fisherman Vinay Tari maintained that they have identified the stretches and areas in the river which are breeding grounds for clams and mussels. “After a gap of over a decade, clams and mussels have made their presence in river Sal. This has helped the fishermen, including elderly fishermen to collect the clams and eke a living,” Tari said.
Velim MLA Cruz Silva echoed similar sentiments. He said for the first time in the last 10 years that clams and mussels have been found again in the river, right from Ambelim to Betul. “We are treading a cautious path to ensure that the desilting work does not destroy the rich marine habitat and deny the fishermen to eke a living,” Cruz said.
The MLA pointed out that he along with the delegation of traditional fishermen identified certain places for the contractor to take up the desilting work. “Initially, the contractor has been asked to start the desilting work from the Betul bridge side. We have identified the areas and the contractor has assured us to take up the work as per the understanding,” Cruz added.
