PANJIM: After years of debate and discussion, the dredging work on River Chapora began on Wednesday.
“Works of dredging of River Chapora would be completed within the next 45 days,” Ports Minister Jayesh Salgaocar, who inaugurated the project, said.
He said that the former Chairman of Chapora Boat Owners’ Association, Balbhim Malvankar, presented suggestions to the people who will be carrying out the dredging work in collaboration with the local fishermen. “For the last several years, fishing trawler owners have been facing problems due to the formation of sandbars at the mouth of Chapora River,” he said.
CoP officials said Vasco-based firm Vaibhavi Dredging will carry out the survey of sandbars at the river mouth as part of the process to dredge the area. The ministry of ports plans to dredge the river mouth and deepen the navigational channel for fishing vessels.
CoP officials said the depth available for fishing trawlers at the river mouth has reduced to 1m, causing obstruction to smooth navigation for fishing trawlers that require a minimum depth of 2.5 m to ply during low tide.
CoP has stipulated that at least 3m of sand will have to be dredged if the navigation route has to achieve a uniform depth of 4m.
The department plans to dredge a 700 m long stretch and a 35 m wide part of the sandbar to ensure fishing vessels can navigate smoothly.
