PANJIM: The Fisheries Department is getting more and more entwined in its own net of inefficiency regarding its patrol boats.
The State Fisheries Department on Monday said that the trawlers are needed for a “short period of time” and for “multipurpose uses” along with the onboard staff.
But if that was the case, why is it in a situation where its last patrolling boat is out of order? It now claims it always hires boats to provide it to the Coast Guard.
“The Indian Coast Guard asks us to provide at least five fishing vessels including canoes for Sagar Kavach coastal security exercise. So, for this we have always been hiring trawlers every year and since these vessels will be with us we will use them for other purposes including patrolling, etc,” a senior department officer said.
The department is unwilling to reveal when its patrol boat broke down using the cover of saying “recently”.
The dept official said “the patrolling vessel broke down recently” and added that the department has initiated the process to appoint an agency which will be tasked to carry out the repair works and annual maintenance of the vessel.
This brings us to another question. Why wasn’t there an annual maintenance contract?
“Our vessel broke down recently. We had invited tender for annual maintenance of the patrolling vessel. The process is on…two (agencies) have quoted and we have moved the file for financial approval before the government,” the officer said.
When asked if the department has proposed to buy new patrolling vessels, the officer said that in the “recent past”, the department has sent a request to the Central government to provide 12 vessels under the Centrally-sponsored scheme and added that Goa’s request is being examined and hoped for a positive response from the Centre.
He said that to maintain strict vigil over illegal fishing at sea, a separate “marine enforcement wing” will be created and designated officials will be entrusted with the responsibility to do patrolling at sea.
Fisheries Minister Nilkanth Halarnkar and Fisheries Director Shamila Monteiro were not available for comments.
