PANAJI
Nearly two months after an official complaint, the government has finally moved to take up repair works on the crumbling Chapora jetty with officials from the Public Works Department (PWD) conducting a detailed inspection earlier this week.
Official sources revealed to The Goan that a team of PWD engineers along with other officials, carried out a comprehensive survey of the jetty infrastructure including the dangerously deteriorating auction shed.
“A report is currently being compiled and is likely to be finalised by this month-end. A tender will be floated once the estimates are ready and the formalities are completed,” the source said.
The Goan on June 1 highlighted the dilapidated condition of the jetty and nearly-collapsed auction shed, despite repeated complaints and photographic evidence submitted by locals and officials to both the Fisheries Department and the North Goa District Collectorate. The absence of toilet facilities was also raised by the people complaining the crew relieve themselves in the river and tourists resort to open defecation.
The issue has also drawn the attention of the Collector with the Bardez Mamlatdar directed to closely examine the matter and provide a status update.
From 34 vessels operating last year, the jetty is left with only 28 presently and 54 crew members.
Fisheries Minister Nilkanth Halarnkar had conceded to the condition while assuring that repair and upgradation works would be carried out during the two-month fishing ban. “Tenders for these works have already been awarded,” Halarnkar had told The Goan.
