In a high-level meeting chaired by Environment Minister Alexio Sequeira today, it was decided to increase the parking fees for vessels at jetties from Rs 5000 to Rs one lakh.
"The association's suggestion to increase parking fees from ₹ 5,000 to ₹1 lakh per month is a positive step," said Sequeira.
"It wasn’t a decision imposed by us, but rather a recommendation from the community itself. This is a big win for all sides, and I believe it will lead to excellent results," he added.
Meanwhile, amid the crisis, the state’s health officials are continuing their efforts to curb the spread of cholera.
"We have 7 patients admitted at South Goa District Hospital and 12 at GMC. While admissions have gone down, we are still cautious. At one point, the hospital saw 30-35 patients at a time. We have isolated cholera patients, provided separate toilets, and doubled the cleaning frequency from three to six times a day," said State Epidemiologist Dr. Utkarsh Betodkar.
Health Minister Vishwajit Rane has also stepped in, instructing the Secretary of Health to convene regular review meetings with health officers to monitor the situation. He emphasised the importance of coordination between the health department and the Directorate of Municipal Administration (DMA) to prevent further spread. “We have made necessary arrangements for patient care at both district hospitals and GMC, and awareness campaigns have been launched for the fishing labour community,” Rane stated.
