the goan I network
MARGAO
The hostile navigation conditions at the mouth of the River Sal, which destroyed a fishing vessel and reportedly claimed the life of a crew member, only brought to the fore once again the danger posed to vessels by the sand bar and the dire need for a break water facility at the river mouth.
While the fishing vessel capsized just metres away from a dredger deployed by the Fisheries department, to dredge the area near the sand bar, and ensure a smooth navigation channel near the River Sal mouth, owners of fishing vessels only hoped the tragedy would spur the government to expedite the construction of the training wall at the river mouth.
Fishermen Jesus D’Costa, who was part of today’s rescue operation, said the River Sal mouth poses danger to the vessels as well as the crew and only a break water facility can ensure a navigation channel free from hostile conditions.
“Many vessels have capsized and disintegrated into parts at the River Sal mouth for want of a break water facility. We only hope today’s incident will come as an eye opener to the government authorities to resume the project,” he said.
A fishing vessel owner, Roy Barretto echoed similar sentiments. “When I received a call from the leader of the Cutbona boat owners, Savio D’Silva to rush to Mobor and find out about the incident, I feared for the worst because many a vessel had capsized in the area in the past. Today, we have lost a crew member. Hope, the incident will open the eyes of the government to implement a back water facility at the River Sal mouth,” he added.
Roy pointed out that the coastal State of Karnataka has as many as 18-19 break water facilities along the coast, adding that the Goa government should resume work on the training wall proposed near the River Sal mouth and give relief to the fishermen.
Newly-elected Chairman of the Cutbona Fisheries Cooperative Society, Vinay Tari said the only solution to the hostile navigation problem at the River Sal mouth lies in the construction of training wall at the mouth. “The government should pursue the matter in the National Green Tribunal and ascertain about the status of the pending case. Once built, the training wall at the River Sal mouth will ensure a smooth navigation channel,” Tari added.
President of the Cutbona Boat Owners Union, Savio D’Silva said dredging of the River Sal mouth will not overcome the problem of navigation faced by the fishing vessels. “Only the training wall at the River Sal can do away with the sand bar and ensure smooth navigation,” Savio added.
The government had employed a dredger near the River Sal mouth since the last several days after a sand bar near the river mouth hampered movement of fishing vessels from venturing out in the sea and returning back to the fishing jetties with the fish catch. In the past too, the River Sal mouth was dredged in a bid to make way for navigation blocked by the sand bar, but the operation only gave temporary relief to the fishing vessels.The River Sal mouth poses danger to the vessels as well as the crew and only a break water facility can ensure a navigation channel free from hostile conditions
The coastal State of Karnataka has as many as 18-19 break water facilities along the coast, adding that the Goa government should resume work on the training wall proposed near the River Sal mouth and give relief to the fishermen
Dredging of the River Sal mouth will not overcome the problem of navigation faced by the fishing vessels
