MAPUSA: Fishermen from Chapora have once again demanded the construction of breakwater at Chapora.
They argued that this is the only solution to the problem of their trawlers being unable to go out to fish.
On Tuesday, the Captain of Ports officials visited the jetty to survey dredging of the sand bar, which is an annual occurrence.
Fisherman first demanded that the Chapora Jetty which is in a dilapidated condition be repaired. They also said there was no use of dredging since the sand bar forms again and again.
Earlier, the Goa Infrastructure Development Corporation officials had come to the jetty and they were told to rebuild the jetty. But so far nothing seems to have happened. When asked, the Captain of Ports (CoP) officials said that the Goa State Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (GSIDC) had not asked for any No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the CoP to rebuild the Chapora Jetty.
Balbhim Malvankar, chairman of the Chapora Fishermen’s Society stated that “now that the boats have been pulled ashore due to the fishing ban, the work on the Chapora Jetty repair works can be started as soon as possible.”
“As long as the sand bar is there we cannot go fishing. Outside boats come and do fishing in our waters. Spending money on dredging is of no use since the sand accumulates soon. There is need for construction of breakwater by the Captain of Ports,” Malvankar said.
Earlier, Rs 34 crore was spent on dredging, but the sand bar was formed soon thereafter. There is a need for a permanent solution to the issue of trawlers being unable to go out from Chapora River. This solution is construction of breakwater, fishermen said.