MARGAO
Participants at a meeting on vector-borne diseases held at the South Goa District Collectorate on Monday called for clear demarcation of responsibilities between the Health Department and Panchayats on garbage and wastewater disposal.
The meeting, chaired by Deputy Collector of Margao Ganesh Barve, also discussed the situation at the Cutbona fishing jetty.
Social and consumer activists Lorna Fernandes and Ramona Almeida raised concerns about garbage collection at the site.
Lorna pointed out that the Fisheries Secretary had earlier assured that the jetty area would be divided between the Velim Panchayat and the Fisheries Department for waste collection. She asked whether this demarcation had been carried out.
She expressed concern that neither the Fisheries Department nor the Health Department has provided updates on the situation at Cutbona after the diarrhoea outbreak.
Meanwhile, with Panchayats passing the issue of sewage and wastewater disposal onto the Health Department, health officials have asked the Deputy Collector to clearly assign responsibilities to the local bodies for waste management.
