Cumbharjua canal notified for croc sightseeing

Panaji: The tourism department on Thursday said that it is demarcating the Cumbharjua canal, starting from the Cortalim ferry point up to the Banastarim bridge, for crocodile sightseeing.The notification issued by tourism director Kedar Naik states that the canal has been notified as an “additional area for sightseeing” to regulate and monitor tourism activities in the canal.Local boat operators offer tourists a two to four hour cruise through the backwaters to spot crocodiles, birds, and a variety of butterflies, depending on the season.Naik said that aside from obtaining permission from the captain of ports and the tourism department, the boat operators need to get an NOC or a licence from the directorate of fisheries and other departments concerned.“All water sports operators should have first aid equipment and rescue gear like life buoys and life jackets on site and on the boat,” Naik said. The tour operators also need to have an emergency backup plan in case of engine failure and other contingencies.The 15km Cumbharjua canal connects the Mandovi and the Zuari, the two main rivers of Goa. Given that the river navigation department’s ferry boats operate in these two rivers, Naik said that the water sports operators and crocodile tour operators should ensure proper coordination with the department to avoid any untoward incidents.The Cumbharjua canal is a thriving, vibrant mangrove habitat, which serves as a spawning ground for several species of fish, prawns, and molluscs, which in turn sustain a healthy population of birds and crocodiles.