Concerns are mounting among South Goa’s fishing community af ter two vessels ran aground at the mouth of the River Sal within weeks, reigniting long-standing fears over unsafe navigation and the long-pending construction of a training wall at the Cut bona fishing jetty. The latest incident oc curred earlier this week when a fishing vessel re turning to shore struck a sandbar near the river mouth, forcing its crew to abandon the boat and wade to safety. Fisher men say this is the second grounding in less than a month, highlighting how the entrance to the river remains among the most treacherous stretches for boats operating during the fishing season. Boat operators and local associations have warned that without the long-promised training wall — a structure meant to stabilise the channel and control sand movement — vessels will continue to face the risk of capsizing or grounding. The project has been stalled for years due to delays in securing envi ronmental clearance. Al though the National Green Tribunal (NGT) had grant ed conditional approval in 2021, no work has re sumed on site. The repeated incidents have now prompted Velim MLA Cruz Silva to call for an urgent joint meeting between the Chief Minis ter, the Fisheries Minister, the Captain of Ports (CoP), and representatives of the Cutbona fishing associa tion operating at the jetty. In his letter sent on Friday, Silva described the con ditions as “persistent and dangerous,” adding that the government must not al low procedural hurdles to compromise the safety of fishermen. He has urged the State government to urgently review current naviga tion hazards, expedite the training wall’s approval and construction, and in troduce immediate safe ty measures such as light signals and navigational markers at the river mouth. “The Cutbona jetty is a vi tal economic and cultural hub for South Goa’s coast al population. We cannot afford to wait for another accident to occur,” the MLA stated, emphasising that the time to act is now. Incidentally, the issue was also raised with the Fisheries Department at a recent function held to fe licitate Pele and other res cuers who saved stranded fishermen during an ear lier grounding incident. Speakers at the event had urged authorities to prior itise long-term safety infra structure instead of relying solely on rescue operations after each mishap. Fishermen have de manded that the Fisher ies Department and the CoP coordinate with local stakeholders to improve rescue response and sur veillance. Many say the lack of warning lights and regular dredging has made the route increasingly un predictable, especially during high tide and mon soon-transition months. With the fishing season underway, the community hopes the proposed joint meeting will lead to tangi ble action and a clear con struction timeline — not just another review of an issue that has already cost livelihoods and endan gered lives.
Two Boats Run Aground at Cutbona, Fishermen Renew Demand for Training Wall at River Sal Mouth
