MARGAO
The hostile navigation conditions at the mouth of River Sal has come back to haunt mechanized boat owners operating from the Cutbona and Betul fishing jetties ahead of the new fishing season which begins today (August 1).
The concerns expressed by the boat owners only brought to the fore the inordinate delay in building a trailing wall at the mouth of river Sal to ensure safe passage for fishing vessels operating from Cutbona and Betul jetties as the project is pending with the National Green Tribunal (NGT) for its nod.
Even as the coastal police descended on the Cutbona fishing jetty to collect details of migrant crew working on the fishing vessels, anxious boat owners pointed out that though the new fishing season officially begins from Sunday, they were anxious and worried whether the adverse navigation conditions at the River Sal mouth will permit safe passage for the fishing vessels operating from the Cutbona jetty.
As fishermen across the coast hope for improved weather conditions conducive for fishing in the Arabian Sea, boat owners operating from Cutbona are anxious and worried, but for a different reason “ the hostile navigation conditions at the River Sal mouth.
They recalled how the adverse conditions at the River Sal mouth had in the past played spoil sport to the fishing activities, even though the sea was conducive for fishing. While less than 10 per cent of the fishing vessels may be ready to start the season from Monday, they, however, are keeping their fingers crossed because of the conditions at the river mouth.
“Our main concern is whether the fishing vessels will be able to venture out in the sea because of the hostile navigation conditions at the river mouth. This is a problem faced by the fishermen and boat owners over the years, but has not been resolved till date. Even if the conditions allow the vessels to enter the sea from the river, there’s no guarantee that the conditions will permit the vessels to return back to the jetty during low tide”, informed Antonio Fernandes, Chairman of the South Goa Fishermen body.
Velim Sarpanch Savio D’Silva and a boat owner, echoed similar sentiments. He said successive governments have failed to address the issue at the River Sal mouth, adding that it is high time the government accord priority to resolve the issue by building a training wall at the river mouth.
Former Velim MLA Benjamin D’Silva said the government had approved a training wall project at the river mouth, but work was stopped after some people took the matter to the court.
“The training wall at the river mouth is the need of the hour. The last government had initiated the project, but it did not see light of the day following objections raised by some people. The adverse navigation conditions at the river Sal mouth are not conducive for the vessels to move out in the sea. Only construction of a training wall at the river mouth is a solution to the problem”, he said.
Benjamin pointed out that the navigation issue is faced by the small and wooden boats, which had in the past sunk or ran aground at the river mouth. “These boats can move out by sailing behind the steel vessels at the river mouth, but they encounter problems while returning back to the jetty”, he added.
