Posted on August 3, 2022
With the hostile navigation condition at the mouth of river Sal playing spoilsport to the new fishing season, the Captain of Ports has mulled temporary dredging of the portion of the river mouth to facilitate navigation for the fishing vessels.
A few fishing boats operating from the Cutbona jetty managed to venture out into the sea after much struggle. Boats which had ventured out in the sea on Monday returned to the jetty taking advantage of the high tide condition.
After the issue of the beleaguered fishermen and boat owners was taken up by Velim MLA Cruz Silva with the government, Captain of Ports James Braganza has said the department has decided to intervene and initiate temporary measures at the river Sal mouth.
“We have decided to move in a dredger at the river Sal mouth on priority to open the navigation channel blocked by the sand bar. This work should hopefully start at the earliest,” Capt Braganza told The Goan.
He added: “We plan to move the machinery either through the sea or via the road to start the dredging operations.”
Fishing boats operating from Cutbona jetty could not venture out for fishing on day one of the new season after a sand bar at the mouth of river Sal hampered the movement of the vessels. Only a couple of vessels managed to venture out with great struggle and after running of the risk of the vessels running aground.
Angry boat owners had on Monday hit out at the authorities including the Fisheries department for not taking proactive measures in ensuring that the mouth of the river Sal is free from hostile navigation issues. The boat owners had also slammed the authorities for the poor condition of the jetty road and had claimed that the authorities had been also found wanting in maintaining the illumination of the jetty.
