MARGAO
As the collapse of the temporary jetty built by ONGC for the India Energy Week has become a talking point in local circles, Velim MLA Cruz Silva has said that while the jetty was constructed in a short time, the government is dragging its feet on building a training wall at the mouth of the River Sal to ensure a dedicated navigation channel for fishermen.
Saying the collapse of the floating jetty at the mouth of the River Sal is not a surprise, the MLA said the incident should serve as a wake-up call for the Government of Goa.
“For more than 35 years, fishermen have been demanding the construction of a training wall to protect them from the strong sea currents they face every year when the fishing season begins in August. Despite repeated demands, the government has failed to obtain the required environmental clearance and complete this important project,” he said.
He added: “On the other hand, the floating jetty was constructed in a short time. The government must clarify whether all necessary environmental clearances were obtained for this project. If they were, why was this project given priority while the genuine and long-pending demand of fishermen was ignored?”
Saying the collapse of the jetty has also raised serious questions about the use of public money, Silva said such a huge investment has failed to deliver any benefit, while the fishing community continues to wait for the basic infrastructure it has been demanding for decades.
Demanding that the Government must immediately conduct an independent technical inquiry into the collapse to determine the exact cause and fix responsibility if any negligence or poor-quality work is found, Silva said, “More importantly, the Government must now give top priority to the construction of the long-pending training wall at the mouth of the River Sal. This is not just an infrastructure project; it is essential for the safety, livelihood and future of our fishermen.”
He said the time has come for the Government to stop ignoring the genuine concerns of the fishing community and ensure that public money is spent on projects that truly serve the people.
