Successive governments have only paid lip service to the hostile navigational problem plaguing fishing vessels at the mouth of River Sal at Betul. Instances are galore of fishing vessels running aground or stranded for hours together due to the hostile conditions at the river mouth.
As the stake holders brace up for a new fishing season beginning from August 1, the same old question has come back to haunt the trawlers owners operating from the Cutbona fishing jetty and the traditional fishermen inhabiting the banks of River Sal along the Betul-Velim belt.
Dredging of the river mouth at the cost of the state exchequer in the past has not brought about any change in the ground reality. And, the boat owners and the traditional fishermen now clamour for a permanent solution and ensure a navigation channel free from siltation.
Says spokesman of the Cutbona Boat Owners Union, Elvis Gomes: ‘The new committee of the Cutbona boat owners Union have decided to pursue the long pending demand of a problem free navigation channel at the River Sal mouth with the government. We want the government to put a permanent mechanism in place”.
He said that fishing vessels are literally at the mercy of the tides to venture out or while returning with a prized fish catch. “It’s not uncommon to find fishing vessels stranded at the river mouth for hours together. Sometimes, boats have to wait for five to six hours for the conditions to stabilise at the river mouth before venturing out or returning back to the jetty”, he added.
The traditional fishermen operating from the Betul fishing belt also echoed similar sentiments. But, they strongly feel that dredging of the river mouth is not a solution to the problem. Says Vinay Tari: The traditional fishermen are opposed to the dredging of the river mouth. Past experience suggest that the dredging has failed to achieve the objective. Instead, the government should go for a retaining wall to check siltation at the river mouth once and for all”.
Tari said the traditional fishermen are firmly opposed to plans to dredge the river Sal. “If the river is polluted, why can’t the government take measures to stop the pollution and effluents finding its way in the river”, he asked.
When Herald contacted the Fisheries Director Dr Sharmila Monteiro, she said the Fisheries department has not decided to go for river training project at the river Sal mouth. “The project has received administration approval. The river training project will be built out of the Rs 26 crore funds received from the centre”, she said.
Monteiro said the project will be executed by the Goa State Infrastructure Development Corporation (GSIDC) on priority basis. While the Fisheries Director’s announcement may ring in the good news and offer a ray of hope for the stake holders, the boat owners, however, will have to wait for some time before the project takes shape at the river mouth.
