Captain of Ports clueless on floating jetty plans in River Sal: Velim MLA

File photo of fishermen harvesting clams at the Betul stretch of the river Sal.

Photo Credits: The Goan

MARGAO
Velim MLA Cruz Silva on Friday demanded that the government should not proceed with the proposed floating jetties in River Sal for the proposed Cavelossim-Betul Fort-Betul Lighthouse cruise circuit without taking stakeholders, including fishermen, into confidence.

In a new twist to the decision taken by the Inland Waterways Authority of India to set up floating jetties in River Sal for the proposed cruise circuit, the Velim MLA has stated that the Captain of Ports has feigned ignorance about the plan to establish floating jetties in the river.

“Today, I called on the Captain of Ports to inquire about the proposal regarding the floating jetties in River Sal. The Captain of Ports told me in clear terms that his office has not received any such proposal to date,” Cruz said.

Nonetheless, the Velim MLA insisted that the government should not move forward with the proposed plan without taking stakeholders into confidence. “River Sal is the lifeline of Salcete. For the fishermen inhabiting the banks of River Sal from Chinchinim, Assolna, Ambelim, Velim, Betul, and Cavelossim, fishing is their livelihood,” Cruz said.

He added: “We have all grown up on the banks of River Sal, with the hard work put in by our ancestors in the fishing industry. Nothing should be done in the river that would destroy its rich marine habitat and the livelihoods of the fishermen.”

Pointing out that the Betul-Cutbona-Ambelim-Assolna stretch of the river plays host to clams and mussels, besides a variety of fish, including mullets and red snapper, the Velim MLA said the fishermen and other stakeholders would not allow the marine habitat to be destroyed by cruise tourism.

“The traditional fishermen, as well as the mechanised boat owners, have been demanding a breakwater facility at the mouth of River Sal for smooth navigation for years, but in vain. The Fisheries Department is yet to carry out the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) report on the project. However, the government has drawn up plans to set up floating jetties and introduce a cruise circuit in the river to boost tourism,” he lamented.

Cruz warned that the fishermen inhabiting the banks of River Sal, from Chinchinim, Assolna, Ambelim, Velim, and Betul, will not remain silent spectators if the government tries to bulldoze ahead with the floating jetties and the cruise circuit against their wishes. “We will soon call a meeting of stakeholders to discuss the situation and chalk out the future course of action,” he said.

The Velim MLA said it is apparent that the Centre, in connivance with the local government, is trying to gauge the pulse of the people on the question of floating jetties and the cruise circuit plan at Betul. “Tomorrow, the government may propose to set up many more floating jetties all across River Sal for cruise tourism, to the detriment of traditional fishermen,” he warned.