Team Herald
SANGUEM: The existence of a shipping vessel in the backwaters of Selaulim dam has puzzled the locals who wonder about the purpose of the vessel particularly given the fact that any type of shipping activities are banned in the Selaulim Resorvoir.
While nobody including the officials at the Water Resources Department, Pajimol, Sanguem know the purpose for which the vessel was brought, locals residing in the vicinity of the Selaulim Dam claim it could have been brought either for fishing or leisure activities during the monsoon.
Locals claim that the vessel has been docked since last around one year and it is predominantly seen during the month of May and June when the water around the Resorvoir gets dried up.
The vessel is anchored at Kosamshell, Sanguem at a distance of about 1.5 kilometers from the WRD office at Pajimol, Sanguem.
Incidentally, the officials at WRD office at Sanguem feigned ignorance of the existence of the shipping vessel and also claimed having not given any permission for any such vessel to operate in the Selaulim backwaters or Resorvoir area.
The officials informed that they will conduct an investigation in the matter and will also report the matter to higher authorities besides reporting the matter to the police.
Incidentally, locals claim that the Selaulim Dam is a sensitive area from where drinking and agricultural water is supplied to major parts of South Goa.
“The very existence of the shipping vessel in the resorvoir area without the knowledge of the officials talks volumes of the security concern of the Selaulim Dam”, claimed a villager Josinho D’costa.
“The officials should be serious in such matters particularly given the fact that the Selaulim Dam is an important location and is the lifeline of people living in South Goa”, claimed D’costa and sought immediate action and investigation into the matter.
