Panaji: Chief Minister Pramod Sawant told the House on Wednesday that the illegal activities off-shore inside the Sea would be monitored through specially equipped drones.
Sawant told the House that there will be drone surveillance to identify the violators inside the waters.
The issue was raised on the floor of the House by Independent MLA Aleixo Reginaldo Lourenco on Wednesday. The MLA alleged that there is nexus between the fisheries department officials and those involved in bull trawling in the waters.
The chief minister said that several times, the fishing trawlers from neighbouring Maharashtra venture in Goan waters. “The border between Goa and Maharashtra is thin. Sometimes, without any intention, the fishing trawlers venture in Goan waters,” he said.
Sawant said that the State Fisheries Department is taking action on the trawlers involved in bull trawling and fishing using LED, which is banned as per the law.
The chief minister said that in the recent past 17-18 boats were seized and the crew members were arrested by local coastal police.
The chief minister said that the surveillance using drone would be implemented in future.
“The drone can click photograph and help the fisheries department to monitor the situation off-shore,” he said.
State Fisheries Minister Nilkant Halarnkar told the House that his department has already conducted trials of drone surveillance for three months. “These drones can fly up to 20 kilometres inside the water,” he said.
