MARGAO
Absence of a patrol vessel will leave the Betul coastal police with no option than to use a motorised canoe to carry out checks on fishing vessels leaving the Cutbona fishing jetty into the sea from August 1.
Sources said the Betul coastal police and the Fisheries officials are expected to check the fishing vessels leaving the Cutbona fishing jetty at 11 am on Monday at the river Sal mouth.
The patrol boat with the Betul coastal police has been lying down and out for over a year. The Goan had reported in October last year how a traditional fisherman from Benaulim, Pele Fernandes had arranged his boat to ferry police personnel after boats from neighbouring Karnataka carried out fishing close to the coast.
Since then, there’s been no change in the ground reality, with the police patrol boat lying in the dumps at the Betul coastal police station. A couple of months ago, a Cavelossim-based starred resort had donated a motor to the Betul coastal police for use in the canoe to facilitate patrolling.
The Goan understands that the Betul police will station at the river Sal mouth with their lone motorised canoe at 11 am on Monday to carry out checking with the Fisheries official.
Police said the department has asked the Fisheries department to make available its vessel at the disposal of the Betul police station, but the vessel may only come after Ganesh Chathurti.
