MARGAO
Dengue is believed to have raised its ugly head at the Cutbona fishing jetty with the detection of NS1-positive cases, raising questions over the hygiene and sanitation situation prevailing at Goa’s largest fishing hub.
NGO GOACAN told the media on Saturday that dengue cases had been detected on boats parked at the jetty. Breeding sites had also been detected on the parked fishing boats.
The Cutbona fishing jetty, which employs over 4,000 migrant crew members on more than 200 fishing vessels, has been in the news over the last two years after it was hit by cholera, resulting in the deaths of four workers in 2024.
GOACAN coordinator Roland Martins told the media that the Primary Health Centre, Balli, had informed the NGO that dengue NS1-positive cases were detected on boats parked at the jetty and that breeding sites were also noticed on these boats.
Balli Primary Health Centre officer Dr Benedita Dias was not willing to either confirm or deny the dengue cases at Cutbona. Instead of replying to a question on the reported dengue cases at Cutbona, she sent a government circular via WhatsApp pointing out the authorities authorised to speak to the media.
GOACAN, which has been closely involved in monitoring sanitation and hygiene at the Cutbona fishing jetty over the years, has expressed concern over the health and sanitation issues prevailing at the jetty following the detection of dengue cases.
After communicating with the Health Officer of PHC Balli, GOACAN coordinator Roland Martins said the NGO was informed that dengue NS1-positive cases had been detected on boats parked at the jetty and breeding sites had also been noticed on these boats.
The NGO had, in April 2026, written to the Health Officer, PHC Balli, and the Director of Fisheries, urging them to undertake inspections and put in place an action plan to address the health and sanitation issues.
In view of the detection of dengue at the jetty, GOACAN has now written to Gaurav Sagun Gaounkar, Deputy Collector and SDM-II (Salcete), seeking his intervention.
In its letter, GOACAN stated: “This season, due to weather conditions and the late arrival of the labour force, some boat owners were not able to operate their boats, which is understandable. However, in view of this type of situation, it is important to address the challenges faced by putting in place an action plan to prevent vector-borne diseases on these parked boats.”
He, therefore, said it was very important for the authorities to undertake a joint inspection to take stock of the issues at the fishing jetty and ensure that an SOP was implemented by the Jetty Management Committee (JMC) in this new scenario. “It is also important to put in place a monitoring mechanism by which your office is updated on a daily/weekly basis,” he said.
He added: “As the Village Panchayat of Velim is holding its Ordinary Gram Sabha meeting tomorrow, August 30, 2026, it is important for your office to get the assistance of the Village Panchayat with regard to waste management, as was decided earlier.”
Copies of the GOACAN letter have been sent to the Fisheries Secretary, Health Secretary, South Goa Collector, Director of Fisheries and Health Services, Deputy Director of Panchayats (South), Health Officer, PHC Balli, and Secretary, Village Panchayat of Velim.
