TEAM HERALD
MARGAO: Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar has promised a solution to the hostile navigation problems faced by boat owners at the mouth of river Sal at Betul by tendering the dredging work at the earliest.
Parrikar said the government would soon tender the works recommended by the consultant so that work at the river Sal gets underway on a priority.
The Chief Minister along with Fisheries Minister Avertano Furtado visited the Betul jetty upon invitation by Velim MLA Benjamin D’Silva to get first-hand information about the situation after traditional fishermen from the Betul area approached him for help to tide over the problems plaguing them at the river mouth.
A group of traditional fishermen led by Nilesh Juvatkar and Devidas Zuvekar explained to the Chief Minister that the hostile conditions at the River Mouth have hit their fishing activity this season. They appealed to Parrikar to compensate them for the loss of livelihood on account of the adverse navigation conditions at the river mouth.
The Chief Minister gave them a patient hearing and called a delegation of the traditional fishermen along with the local MLA to Panjim later this week to discuss the issue of compensation.
The Fisheries Minister later told Herald that the Chief Minister has understood the navigation problems faced at the river Mouth and has promised to solve the issue at the earliest.
