MAPUSA
With Goa’s 61-day monsoon fishing ban set to end at midnight on July 31, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLA Cruz Silva has called for urgent preparedness at Cutbona jetty – the State’s largest mechanised fishing hub.
Raising the matter during the Zero Hour in the Goa Legislative Assembly on Monday, Silva stressed that the start of the new fishing season must be marked by safety, hygiene and efficiency, especially for the 300-plus vessels and nearly 4,500 migrant workers who rely on the jetty for their livelihood.
Referring to last year’s cholera and dengue outbreaks at the site, Silva pointed out glaring sanitation lapses that continue to persist.
“The long-awaited 50-seater toilet block may finally be nearing completion, but major concerns remain. Stagnant water, poor waste management and stalled infrastructure projects like the proposed training wall at the River Sal mouth pose serious threats to health and safety,” he warned.
Silva urged the Fisheries Department to act swiftly and transparently by conducting final inspections before August 1, operationalising the new toilet block and eco-toilets, restoring navigational safety at the River Sal mouth and coordinating with the Health and Labour departments to ensure the welfare of migrant workers.
“Let us not wait for another outbreak or protest,” Silva said.
“The fishing community has shown great resilience. Now, it is time for responsive governance. Their labour sustains our coastal economy – it is our duty to ensure their safety and dignity,” he added.
The Cutbona jetty in South Goa plays a key role in the State’s fishing industry, and concerns about its infrastructure have been repeatedly raised by stakeholders over the years.
