MARGAO
On World Toilet Day, a Hyderabad-based agency gave a power-point presentation at the Cutbona fishing jetty on installing bio-toilets on mechanized fishing vessels in order to address sanitation issues concerning the migrant crew.
However, given that bio-toilets may not fit in the small fishing vessels due to the space crunch, it has been decided to install the toilets at the Cutbona fishing jetty with the help and assistance of the Fisheries department.
While an official of the Hyderabad-based Banka BioLoo Ltd gave a presentation to the boat owners and NGOs over the efficacy of bio-toilets to address the sanitation requirements of migrant crew, local stakeholders lamented over the absence of the Fisheries Director or the Deputy Director at the presentation.
Boat owners led by Chairman of the Cutbona Fisheries Society, Vinay Tari said though the department has taken a good initiative to install bio-toilets on the fishing vessels, the proposal should be implemented on new boats after working out a proper design to meet the requirements of fishing vessels. “There are many small fishing boats which faces space constraints and hence will not be able to implement the bio-toilets. This proposal can be implemented at the stage of building the fishing vessels with proper design,” Tari said.
He, however, pointed out that the Director of Fisheries can implement the bio-toilets concept at the Cutbona fishing jetty, saying the Cutbona fisheries associations will adopt resolutions and send the same to the Fisheries Director to implement the concept at the jetty. “The Cutbona fishing jetty is facing sanitation problem as the lone sulabh toilet is in bad shape and does not cater to the thousands of migrant labour. The Fisheries department can implement the bio-toilets at the jetty till such time the 50-seater toilet block becomes a reality,” he added.
GOACAN coordinator Roland Martins said since the boat owners have expressed their reservations over the installation of bio-toilets on board the vessels, the concept can be experimented at the jetty given that the lone toilet block is craving for attention for want of maintenance.
“I think a beginning should be made to address the sanitation issue at Cutbona jetty. If not on the fishing vessels, bio-toilets can be tested at the jetty so that the migrant crew does not answer their nature’s call in the adjoining fields,” he said.
