MARGAO: The Captain of Ports (CoP) notice prohibiting inland water traffic in Rivers Mandovi and Zuari because of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit at Mapusa has upset local stakeholders.
As per the notice, except for those engaged in essential services, the restriction has been put in place for February 10, Thursday between 2 pm and 9 pm. These include all owners/masters of the barges, passenger launches, tindels of fishing trawlers and operators of mechanised and non-mechanised crafts, including the tourist boats, cruise boats etc. Questions have been raised as to why casinos have been left out.
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“Considering, it is an election rally meeting in Mapusa, the boat operators fail to understand why river traffic in the Mandovi and Zuari has been stopped for 7 hours. Also, casinos are not mentioned in the notification. At a time when tourism numbers are down and businesses are trying to stay afloat it is disappointing and hard to understand why we have to shut almost for a full day of operations due to such a reason,” said Aakash Madgavkar of Goa Boat Cruises.
Fishermen also questioned this circular and said they go out daily and missing out a single day is a loss for them, especially given the existing economic constraints and rough weather issues of late.
