TEAM HERALD
CORTALIM: Fisheries Minister Avertano Furtado laid the keel for the vessel to be built for the fisheries department at De Sa Engineering Works at Maddant in Cortalim on Tuesday.
Director of Fisheries Sharmila Monteiro, who was also present along with Velim MLA Benjamin Silva, told Herald that the 15-metre long vessel would be used for training the crew in fishing methods, using of GPS and also for patrolling.
Asked about the upgradation of Cortalim fishing jetty which the Detail Project Report has already been finalised, Monteiro informed that all necessary permission had been received for its upgradation.
When specifically asked whether the Cortalim-Quelossim panchayat approval had been obtained, Monteiro after little hesitation said that the department would be obtaining the approval shortly.
When her comments were sought over the opposition by the residents towards the upgradation/expansion of the jetty, Monteiro said “We are only upgrading the existing jetty.”
Earlier, Cortalim Parish Priest Fr Diogo Fernandes blessed the keel.
