JOAO SOUSA M | NT
CAVELOSSIM/VELIM
With monsoons fast approaching, the abandoned work on the Rs 14 crore sea wall training which was objected by Cavelossim villagers has become a matter of concern for the fishing community as the sand could come to haunt them at the start of the new fishing season.
The new fishing season will resume on August 1 after a two month ban from June 1 as the mouth of the river could create a hurdle for the smooth entering of the fishing boats.
It may be recalled that villagers from Cavelossim had objected to the ongoing work of the sea wall training to arrest sand erosion and settling at the mouth of the river.
The president of the Cutbona boat owners association, Savio D’Silva said, the abandoned work is a matter of concern as the sand could get deposited at the mouth of the river. The fishing community is united on the demand for the sea training wall and had even raised the matter with the Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar who has assured that the work will be taken up at the earliest.
Former president Cypriano Cardozo said the abandoned work is a matter of concern as there is a lot of loose sand lying on the beach due to excavation which could find its way to the mouth of the river during the monsoon.
The villagers of Cavelossim on the other hand has criticised the contractor for damaging the beach and leaving construction material including stones and red-mud which will cause irreversible damage to the beach. The residents said how did the contractor get permission to dump red-mud on the beach, the contractor has also carried out deep excavations without any permissions.
The deputy sarpanch Laju Miranda however said that the contractor has given an undertaking before the panchayat that the beach will be restored to its original state after the work is completed. He said if there was no objection the work would have been completed by now.
He said various government departments have also visited the site and have taken stalk of the present situation and the condition of the beach.