MARGAO
In a development that has raised a host of questions, it is now revealed that the new 222-metre jetty built at the Cutbona fishing hub in 2019 spending crores of rupees can host only four-wheel vehicles when the requirement is for six-wheel fish transporting vehicles.
This has thrown up a question of whether the new jetty is not designed to bear the load of six-wheel fish transporting vehicles, and if yes, what was the rationale behind spending crores of rupees for the new jetty at the State’s biggest fishing hub.
In a bid to find out whether the new jetty can play host to six-wheel vehicles or only four-wheel vehicles, a load test has been suggested by the authorities. It’s not yet known whether the load test will be conducted by the Goa State Infrastructure Development Corporation (GSIDC), the agency that built the 222-metre jetty for the fisheries department or by the PWD.
GSIDC officials have reportedly claimed that the jetty has been designed to accommodate only four-wheel vehicles at the instance of the fisheries department. The defect liability period of the new jetty is believed to have expired over a year ago, raising questions about whether the GSIDC can be still asked to conduct the load-bearing test of the new jetty.
Sources pointed out that the PWD Executive Engineer and GSIDC officials attended the meeting called by the Fisheries Secretary E Vallavan at the Cutbona jetty. Sources said that the government will have to take a call on how to go about the matter since the new jetty will not be of any use to the boat owners if it cannot accommodate six-wheel vehicles.
Secretary of Cutbona Boat Owners Federation, Patrick D’Silva said while Chief Minister Pramod Sawant is scheduled to inaugurate the new jetty shortly, questions arise as to why the new jetty was not designed to bear the load of six-wheel vehicles.
“For whose benefit is the new jetty built if it cannot bear the load of six-wheel vehicles?” Patrick questioned, adding that the authorities should at least ensure that the jetty accommodates half the portion of the six-wheel vehicles on the jetty.
Boat owners upset over toilet installation diktat
Boat owners have expressed frustration with instructions from the Fisheries Department requiring the installation of toilets on fishing vessels.
Portable toilets at the Cutbona fishing jetty. Pic: Santosh Mirajkar
The department’s directive mandates that large vessels must have two toilets, while smaller vessels are required to have one. However, Fisheries Director Yashaswini B clarified that no specific deadline has been set for compliance.
Secretary of Cutbona Boat Owners Federation Patrick D’Silva told the media after a meeting of the stakeholders called by the Fisheries Department at the Cutbona jetty that the boat owners have expressed their reservations to the department’s diktat to install two toilets on the vessels.
“Even a plane carrying over 100 passengers has a lone toilet. Here, the government wants two toilets aboard the vessels for 25-30 workers,” he said.
He, however, hastened to add that the government can implement the provision for toilets aboard the vessels for the new vessels or vessels seeking licences after modification.
