Team Herald

PANJIM: The State Cabinet on Wednesday approved an amendment to the Goa Daman & Diu Marine Fishing Regulation Act 1980 (Act No 3 of 1981) against the use of explosives or material with intent to catch or destroy fish in the sea.

The amendment is for insertion of section 18A which says, “No person shall use any dynamite or any other explosive substance, with intent to catch or destroy fish in waters.

No person shall put any poison, lime or noxious material in any waters, with intent thereby to catch or destroy any fish therein. “

The government has also inserted a clause which gives powers to officials to enter and search fishing vessel and conduct an inquiry by carrying out amendment to Section 21.

“The adjudicating officer shall after the enquiry under Section 20 decide whether any person has used or caused or allowed to be used any fishing vessel in contravention of any of the provisions of this Act or any rules or order for notification made there under or any condition of licence or any such person on being found guilty by the adjudicating officer shall be liable to such penalty as may be prescribed,” it says.

The Cabinet also decided to accord approval to substitute clause (g) sub-section (2) of Section 3 of the Goa State Higher Education Council Act, 2018 (Goa Act 14 of 2018) so as to allow the Goa State Higher Education Council to co-opt members on the said council having expertise across the field, including from outside the State of Goa and approve draft “The Goa State Higher Education Council (Amendment Bill, 2019”.

In another decision, the Cabinet resolved to grant ex-post factor approval to procure 21965 sq metres of land in villages of Chandor, Guirdolim, Sao Jose de Areal and Davorlim of Salcete taluka for Kulem to Margao doubling of South Western Railway project for an amount of Rs 10,32,90,413.