NGT cleared project in 2021, but Fisheries Dept is yet to secure environmental clearance or begin construction
Rocks, sand bars all come in the way of smooth navigation for the fishing vessels at the River Sal mouth at Betul.
MARGAO
Fishermen and boat owners operating from the Cutbona fishing jetty have long demanded the construction of a training wall at the mouth of the River Sal to ensure a safe and navigable channel for fishing vessels.
The latest recent incident of a fishing vessel running aground near the river mouth has brought the issue back into sharp focus.
On Saturday night, a fishing vessel ran aground near the mouth of the River Sal, leaving 27 fishermen stranded at sea for several hours. The incident has reignited a pressing question: What has prevented the Fisheries Department from securing the required Environmental Clearance (EC) for the training wall project over the past four years?
This question gains significance considering that in November 2021, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) gave its go-ahead for the construction of the training wall — but with a crucial condition: the Fisheries Department must first obtain EC before commencing work and ensure restoration of the affected land.
Four years later, the training wall remains a non-starter. Fishermen continue to face hazardous navigation conditions at the river mouth, especially during rough seas.
The project dates back to pre-2017, when the Fisheries Department, through the Goa State Infrastructure Development Corporation (GSIDC), began preliminary work on the 483-metre-long training wall extending into the Arabian Sea.
However, in October 2017, the Cavelossim Villagers Forum challenged the project before the NGT, citing the lack of mandatory environmental clearance. The NGT upheld the Forum’s contention, directing the Fisheries Department to secure EC from the Ministry of Environment before proceeding with the construction. Despite this clear directive in 2021, the department has yet to obtain the clearance — let alone invite fresh tenders for the project.
The delay has left the project in limbo for four years, even as fishermen and boat owners repeatedly raised the issue at the start of every fishing season.
Speaking on Sunday, a concerned boat owner questioned the government’s inaction: “Will the training wall be built only after a tragedy occurs at the river mouth? This latest incident should serve as a wake-up call. It’s time for the Fisheries Department to move swiftly and set the process in motion.”
The incident has once again underscored the urgent need for the government to prioritise safety infrastructure along Goa’s coast and not wait for disasters to prompt action.
Velim MLA Cruz Silva said it is heart breaking to witness yet another near-tragedy at River Sal. “Today, lives were saved but for how long?” Silva stated. “I have repeatedly raised the demand for a training wall at the river mouth in the Goa Legislative Assembly. Yet, there has been no progress. My question to the Chief Minister and the Fisheries Minister is simple: how many more labourers must risk their lives before this government acts,” he questioned, while calling upon the government to immediately sanction and begin work on the training wall at River Sal.
Fisheries dept to finalise agency to conduct EC, submit report
MARGAO: Fisheries Director, Dr Shamila Monteiro on Sunday informed that the department’s consultant is in the process of finalising the agency to conduct the EC and submit the report to the Environment Ministry.
She said once the consultant finalises the agency to prepare the EC, the same will be sent to the Environment Ministry for approval. “The department will prepare fresh estimates for the construction of the training wall at the River Sal mouth,” she added.
Crucial questions remain unanswered – Will the government direct the selected agency to expedite the EC process and ensure timely submission of the report to the Ministry? More importantly for the local fishing community, will the construction of the training wall resume before the end of the year — in time to complete the work before the onset of the next monsoon?
Mishap brings to fore gaps in coastal emergency response
MARGAO: When the owner of an ill-fated fishing vessel received a late-night call from the vessel’s captain on Saturday, informing him that the boat had suffered a mechanical failure after hitting a sand formation, he immediately reached out to the Betul coastal police station seeking urgent assistance to rescue the marooned crew members.
The Betul police station is located less than a kilometre from the mouth of the River Sal. However, the boat owner soon realised that the station’s proximity to the incident site would be of little help after personnel at the police station informed him bluntly that they were not equipped with any speed boat or interceptor to launch a rescue operation. A policeman on duty even suggested that the owner flash a distress signal to attract the attention of other fishing vessels operating in the area.
This incident has once again highlighted the alarming lack of emergency response infrastructure along Goa’s coast, particularly at coastal police stations like Betul. This is not the first time the station has failed to provide timely assistance to fishermen in distress. In fact, it is not uncommon for local fishermen to ferry coastal police officers in their own speed boats to chase away Karnataka-based fishing vessels found illegally operating in Goa’s territorial waters.
Inquiries by The Goan have revealed that the interceptor boats procured by the government nearly a decade and a half ago are now non-functional. The lone interceptor allocated to the Betul coastal police station currently lies towed ashore and down and out.
Fisherman Pele rescues 27 from grounded vessel amid rough seas
MARGAO: When Benaulim fisherman Pele Fernandes received a phone call in the dead of night, he was fast asleep after a long day’s work. Initially ignoring the unknown number, he eventually answered as the phone continued to ring persistently — only to learn that 27 fishermen were stranded on a grounded vessel near the mouth of the River Sal.
Realising the urgency of the situation, Pele sprang into action and rushed to Mobor with his jet-ski. “When I reached Mobor, the sea conditions were hostile, with huge waves crashing against the shore. So, we decided to wait until dawn to begin the rescue,” he told the media.
At daybreak, Pele approached the stranded vessel. “I couldn’t get my jet-ski too close due to the ill-fated vessel,” he explained. “So I asked the crew to wear their life jackets and jump into the water, one by one. Among the first to be rescued was a 65-year-old man from Agonda,” he said, as he thanked the Almighty for giving him the courage in the rescue mission.
Soon after, lifeguards from Drishti and additional jet-skis joined the operation, enabling the safe rescue of all the 27 crew members.
Pele made an impassioned plea to Chief Minister Pramod Sawant to equip coastal police stations with rescue boats to safeguard the lives of fishermen. He also extended his gratitude to Tourism Minister Rohan Khaunte for permitting the early start of the water sports season — a move that allowed him access to his jet-ski for the critical rescue mission.
