MARGAO: The local fishing community from Cavelossim and Cutbona have reacted sharply to the continued opposition to the construction of a wall at the mouth of River Sal and pointed out that in the absence of such a wall, the lives of fishermen are at stake.
On Tuesday, Cavelossim Villagers Forum opposed the wall again and explained why they had approached the National Green Tribunal on the grounds that no environment clearance for the execution of the work was undertaken for the construction of the said wall from the Ministry of Forests & Environment or the State Coastal Zone Management Authority (GCZMA).
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It had warned that the wall could have a negative impact on the environmental including accretion of sand on the up-drifts side with a consequent erosion of sand on the down drift side.
However the fishing community countered the allegations against the wall and said contrary to the claims that were made, it had been useful outside Goa without damaging the natural surroundings.
More importantly, they referred to the increase in incidents of boats capsizing and said the wall was essential to save lives and the boats that get damaged in the process.
“Many such incidents (safety of fishermen) go unnoticed. This year, the mouth of River Sal has become very dangerous to navigate as the sand bar has increased its length and height and poses a threat to small and medium types of fishing vessels,” said Roy Barreto from Cavelossim.
“Government of Goa has rewarded us (fisher community) with a project which costs Rs 100 crore to put up breakwaters. Breakwaters were proposed by the fisher’s community and approved by GCZMA after doing the Environmental Impact Assessment study,” said Roy.
He lamented that the project that was given to a private company had been stopped and delayed for four years now. “I wonder how long it will take. It should be done before more lives are sacrificed,” he added.
