Cutbona toilet maintenance fee plan raises concerns among boat owners

The Cutbona fishing jetty, which recently witnessed major sanitation upgrades following cholera outbreaks.

MARGAO
The Fisheries Department’s move to levy toilet maintenance fees on fishing vessel owners operating at the Cutbona fishing jetty has sparked questions, with boat owners demanding transparency in the proposed fee structure and expenditure calculations.
The development assumes significance as the Cutbona fishing jetty in South Goa — considered the State’s biggest fishing hub — had witnessed a major public health scare after outbreaks of cholera during the last two fishing seasons. Following the outbreaks, the government had substantially upgraded sanitation infrastructure at the jetty by constructing a new 50-seater toilet complex in addition to the existing nine toilet blocks and nearly 15 bathrooms.
To encourage usage of the sanitation facilities, especially among migrant workers employed as crew members on fishing vessels, the government had earlier decided against collecting user charges directly from individuals. Officials had feared that charging workers for the facilities could discourage usage and aggravate sanitation concerns at the jetty.
Since then, the government has been reimbursing Sulabh International Social Service Organisation towards the upkeep and maintenance of the toilet complexes.
However, the latest circular issued by Fisheries Director Dr Shamila Monteiro has proposed the collection of maintenance fees from stakeholders operating at the jetty to meet the operational expenses of the sanitation facilities.
As per the circular, the department has proposed a monthly toilet maintenance fee of Rs 1,000 for trawlers, Rs 3,000 for trawlers-cum-purse seiners, and Rs 3,000 for fish traders conducting business at the jetty.
The Director stated that the Government has approved the collection of fees towards the usage and maintenance of toilet facilities operated by Sulabh International at Cutbona jetty.
The proposal has, however, triggered concern among fishing vessel owners, who claim that the proposed fee structure could potentially generate annual revenue running into Rs 30 lakh to Rs 40 lakh.
Cutbona Fish Owners Society Chairman Savio D’Silva questioned the rationale behind the calculations adopted by the department for determining the maintenance charges.
“Cutbona has around 150 fishing vessels operating from the jetty. We want complete transparency from the Fisheries Department regarding how these fees have been calculated and how the amount collected will be utilised. Only after that will the boat owners take a decision on payment of the maintenance fees,” D’Silva said.
He further stated that the fishing community had only recently received the circular and discussions among stakeholders would be held before arriving at a collective stand on the issue.
“We have just received the circular. The boat owners will meet shortly and decide how to go about the matter,” he added.
Meanwhile, sources in Sulabh International acknowledged that although the government has agreed to reimburse maintenance expenses, delays in reimbursement have created operational challenges.
A senior Sulabh official said the organisation typically relies on user charges collected at public sanitation facilities for routine maintenance and upkeep.
“Normally, most of our toilets are maintained from the user fees collected from users. This helps us rotate funds for proper upkeep and maintenance. In the case of Cutbona, we spend money regularly on maintenance, but reimbursement from the government comes only after some time,” the official said.