MARGAO
As dengue and diarrhoea have struck the Cutbona fishing jetty, the State’s biggest fishing hub, government agencies, including the Fisheries Department, have come under the scanner of stakeholders and social activists.
While health officials are on the job at the Cutbona jetty to undertake anti-larvae measures and fogging, questions have come to the fore about whether the Fisheries Department, the owner of the jetty, has been maintaining hygiene, sanitation and cleanliness at Goa’s biggest jetty.
Health officials in private say that it is the primary responsibility of the jetty owner to ensure hygiene, sanitation and cleanliness at the fishing jetty, which is home to thousands of migrant workers employed on the 150-odd mechanised fishing vessels.
In fact, dengue cases have come to haunt the Fisheries Department with the new extended portion of the fishing jetty literally converted into a dumping ground for dingy, fishing nets, baskets etc.
Boat owners have been knocking on the doors of the Fisheries Department for a request to tow away the old and junk vessels still anchored at the extended portion of the jetty.
Says Velim Sarpanch Veena Cardozo, “Sometimes questions are raised whether it is the responsibility of the local village panchayat to look after the cleanliness of the jetty. Since the Fisheries Department collects all the revenue from the fishing jetty, it is the responsibility of the department to look after the hygiene and cleanliness.”
She added: “The Velim panchayat does not benefit in any way on the revenue front from the jetty. How can the panchayat spend the taxpayers' money on the cleanliness of the jetty when the revenue generated at the jetty is taken by the Fisheries Department.”
Boat owner and former Velim Sarpanch Savio D’Silva said the boat owners have been demanding over the years to remove all the scrap and junk fishing vessels anchored at the fishing jetty but in vain.
“We understand that the health teams are working on the ground to contain the spread of dengue and diarrhoea. But, the Fisheries Department should explain whether they have succeeded in removing the old vessels from the jetty,” he said.
