PANJIM: The Mumbai-based Maritime Energy Heli Air Services Pvt Ltd (MEHAIR) has assured local fishermen opposing the project that the seaplane’s operations will not damage the marine life.
“The traditional fishermen will end their lives if Goa government allows sea planes to operate in the waters.. Government wants to get this activity at the cost of our livelihood,” Goenchya Ramponkarancho Ekvott President Agnelo Rodrigues told a section of the media ahead of the launch trial off Mandovi river on Saturday. He threatened that fishermen will commit suicide if the government does not scrap the proposal.
Despite the protests, government decided to go ahead with this proposal launching the seaplane.Tourism Minister Dilip Parulekar said the fishermen were raising unwarranted issues. “Their livelihood will not be affected. Government is completely aware and concerned about the traditional fishermen,” he told reporters.
MEHAIR CEO Siddhart Verma allayed fears that the activity will in anyway affect the fishermen or the eco-system “It stays in water for barely a few seconds during its take-off and landing phases compared to boats traversing the same distance. The waves it creates are also not huge. Compared to seaplane, even trawlers are bigger in size,” he said during a presentation prior to the official launch.
The company has, however, sought the fishing area during the takeoff and landing with Verma quickly adding the area is otherwise always open to fishermen. “Fishing activity will not be disturbed at all,” he commented.
He also responded in the negative to apprehensions that the commercial operations will hit marine life. “Except for floats (hollow), no other part comes in touch with water,” he explained adding, “The engine is a sealed unit preventing oil/fuel leakages. We have ensured zero tolerance as per manufacture standards.”
The official elaborated saying fuselage – the aircrafts main body parts, has nothing that will be detrimental to water as it is non-toxic and has anti-fouling paint. Moreover, the wings hold the sealed fuel tank making it secured from coming in contact with water.
“Since there is no toilet in the aircraft, there is no chance of wastes being dumped anywhere,” he said reiterating the aircraft is environmentally neutral.
