the goan I network
CANACONA
Fishermen of Palolem have strongly objected to a temporary bridge erected using wooden planks on grounds it blocked the mouth of the river and hindered their fishing activities.
Incidentally, the temporary wooden bridge is erected every tourism season since the last several years between Monko (the northern end) and Kerchel (the other side) at the mouth of the Palolem River.
Tourism seasonal huts and restaurants operate at Kerchel at the northern end of Palolem beach, while the fishermen station their canoes and boats in the river, especially during monsoon and during the extreme weather conditions.
“The illegal bridge using wooden poles and planks was erected overnight on Tuesday without anybody’s knowledge. We have our boats and canoes stationed in the river after the last cyclonic storm hit and almost destroyed the beach front of Palolem and damaged several of our fibre boats,” informed Udbav Pagi.
“It is our normal practice to take boats to safety into the river whenever such storms hit our coast. These days after our fishing trips, we regularly take our boats inside the river, but early Wednesday morning we noticed this illegal bridge has come up almost blocking our access to the sea,” Pagi added.
The matter was then reported to authorities and Canacona Dy Collector Vikas Kambli inspected the site, while several fishermen threatened to bring down the wooden bridge.
Kambli told reporters that the bridge did not have any permission from authorities, including the Canacona Municipal Council (CMC) or GCZMA, and should be removed immediately. After stating the party alleged to have erected the bridge had been summoned to his office, Kambli left the site even as several fishermen threatened to break the bridge.
Canacona Councillor Divakar Pagui pacified the agitated fishermen not to demolish the bridge, stating the party concerned should remove the hurdle and provide safe passage to and from the river. “Our fishermen also carry out fishing activities in the river. How are they expected to carry out their traditional activities,” asked Pagui.
In a bid to maintain law and order, a Canacona police team also went to the site, while another councillor Dayanand Pagui also appealed to the fishermen not to demolish the bridge, but to wait for authorities to take action and remove the bridge. “CMC Chairperson Nitu Desai and Dy Chairperson Hemant Naikgaunkar have also been informed about the bridge, which is not only illegal but also hinders fishing activity in the area,” said Dayanand Pagui.
