Posted on November 13, 2018
Fisheries Minister Vinod Palyekar has stated that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) should follow the procedures keeping in mind the health and well being of the locals consuming fish.
“The inspection of fish for formalin is being conducted out by the FDA and there should be no objection to the same,” Palyekar said after inaugurating the work of dredging Chapora River, on Friday.
The formation of sandbars at the mouth of Chapora River was preventing the trawler owners from fishing even two months after the fishing ban was lifted.
After analysing the problem faced by the fishing community, the Siolim MLA felt the need to take up the dredging works of Chapora River at an estimated cost of approximately Rs 5 crore.
Fishing trawler owners said that the work of dredging is taken up after a gap of fourteen years.
On the occasion, Ports Minister Jayesh Salgaonkar said that works of dredging of the river would be completed within the next forty-five days.
“The former Chairman of Chapora Boat Owners’ Association, Balbhim Malvankar has presented suggestions to the people who will be carrying out the dredging work in collaboration with the local fishermen. It may be recalled that for the last several years, the fishing trawler owners have been facing problems due to the formation of sandbars at the mouth of Chapora River,” Jayesh said.
The formation of sandbars creates obstacles and has been severely affecting the business of the traditional fishing community. The local fishermen also suffered huge losses as they were losing out on two months of business due the obstacle caused by the sandbars.
After the dredging, the depth of the river would increase facilitating smooth navigation of the trawlers, which require a depth of minimum 2.5 meters during low tide. But currently, the depth at the mouth of Chapora River is only one meter.
Source: Herald
