MARGAO: Aggrieved over yet another boat grounding in the sand bar formed at the mouth of River Sal at Cavelossim, Cutbona Boat Owners’ Association on Monday demanded immediate resumption of the work of constructing the breakwater wall at the site.
Former president of the association Patrick D’Silva informed that the work of constructing the breakwater was awarded when Digambar Kamat was the chief minister and has not commenced as yet due to objections raised by an NGO.
“The National Green Tribunal has now ordered that the work can commence but the work is not starting probably because the contractor Venkat Rao Infrastructure Pvt Ltd whose workers were assaulted earlier is scared to start the same,” he said.
He disclosed that the NGO had objected to the fact that no permission was taken to build the temporary road that was constructed to transport material required for constructing the breakwater.
“The dredging done is not helping as within 10 days of dredging the sand bar starts forming again and trawler owners lose 6 hours of fishing as they cannot cross the sand bar during low tide and have to wait for high tide only,” said Roy Barretto, a member of the association.
He disclosed that the work estimated at Rs 100 crore was awarded to Rao Infrastructure who was also paid some amount but unfortunately the work has not yet started. “We are at the fag end of the season and any damage to the vessel at this time could be devastating,” he said.
