NT Reporter
Margao
The sub-divisional administration has directed Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) to dismantle and remove high-intensity lighting systems and structural hazards at the Cutbona-Betul river mouth within 15 days following complaints from the local fishing community over navigation safety.
The direction was issued after an emergency joint meeting chaired by the Deputy Collector on Friday. The meeting was attended by representatives of the Cutbona Boat Owners’ Union, Velim MLA Cruz Silva, Benaulim MLA Venzy Viegas, the sarpanchs of Betul and Cavelossim, and representatives of ONGC.
Local fishermen and traditional boat owners objected to a floating pontoon structure installed by ONGC at Betul. They alleged that the structure, which recently collapsed due to rough weather and heavy wave action, was erected without the necessary technical assessments and mandatory environmental clearances.
Fishermen also stated that high-intensity lights left operational on the damaged structure were causing problems for vessel operators navigating the river mouth at night.
The meeting also discussed the long-pending demand for a permanent training wall at the Sal river mouth.
“We have been raising this issue since we were elected in 2022,” Silva said.
Boat operators said that temporary floating structures ignored local ecological conditions and that a scientifically designed training wall remained the only long-term solution to stabilise the silted sandbars and ensure safe movement of traditional and commercial fishing vessels operating from the Cutbona jetty.
ONGC also faced criticism over the floating jetty after the Betul sarpanch stated that a show-cause notice had been served on the PSU, to which it was yet to respond. The sarpanch also alleged that ONGC was not paying taxes to the panchayat.
Viegas criticised Fisheries Minister Nilkant Halarnkar over the issue and stated that it would be interesting to examine the minutes of the meeting to see whether the observations of the Betul sarpanch regarding ONGC allegedly not paying taxes to the panchayat had been recorded.
