MARGAO
All was not found well at the cholera and dengue-hit Cutbona fishing jetty as a joint inspection of the jetty has unearthed unhygienic and insanitary conditions, besides rampant illegalities at Goa’s largest fishing hub, which has hit the headlines over the outbreak of cholera, claiming the lives of four migrant workers.
Though home to around 150 fishing vessels and over 4,000 migrant workers, the inspection team comprising of Deputy Collector, Ganesh Barve, SDM Ramesh Gaonkar, Velim MLA Cruz Silva, besides officials of various agencies, including health, FDA, Panchayat, Fisheries, besides NGOs and stakeholders found to their shock and surprise the gross deficiencies in basic infrastructure, including toilets and hygiene.
After coming across the scrap and unused vessels anchored at the jetty, which is now a breeding ground for mosquitoes, Deputy Collector Barve later told the media that the Fisheries Department will be told to file an Action Taken Report on the removal of the vessels.
With the inspection centered on how to contain the outbreak of cholera, the Deputy Collector said the Fisheries Department needs to explain why the bio-toilets are non-functional. The team came across deficiency in the functioning of the Sulabh toilet, with Barve saying no proper soap facility was provided at the washrooms. “We will issue directions to provide soap at the facility,” he added.
Conceding that the prevailing atmosphere is “unregulated” at the Cutbona fishing jetty, he said establishments have been operating at the jetty sans valid permits and licences. “We will ask the concerned authorities to act as per the directions,” he added.
Velim MLA Cruz Silva said the bio-toilets are of no use for the migrant labourers since they are working as censors powered by electricity. “During power outage, the censors are out of order and stop the flow of water. You think the migrants will use these toilets in such circumstances. I have gone through the register and hardly 100-120 workers on an average are using the bio-toilets when workers, including truck drivers and cleaners are found at the jetty on any given day,” Cruz added.
Boat owner Savio D’Silva squarely blamed the Fisheries Department for the pathetic state of affairs at the jetty, saying the department should own the responsibility for the dengue and cholera outbreak and the deaths.
NGO points at complete failure of agencies in addressing hygiene issues at Cutbona
MARGAO: An exasperated GOACAN coordinator, Roland Martins has lamented that inspections after inspections have not helped to bring about a turnaround at the Cutbona fishing jetty, making the fishing hub a hotspot for the outbreak of dengue and cholera.
After the inspection, Martins said there’s complete collapse and failure of the agencies in using the laws and rules in force to address the issue of hygiene, sanitation and illegalities. “No sanitary cards are issued to the workers. Establishments are operating at the jetty without licence and FDA permission. The toilets are grossly inadequate. Scrap vessels are all anchored at the jetty, making them breeding sites for vector borne diseases. Let us wait and see whether any action is forthcoming now after this latest inspection,” Martins added.
