MARGAO
The formalin issue dominated the gram sabha of Velim panchayat which is home to the Cutbona fishing jetty, with members demanding an FDA unit at the jetty to check the quality of fish unloaded from the trawlers.
The agitated members demanded that the local body should not allow commencement of the fishing season on August 1 if the Directorate of Fisheries fails to make adequate provision for sanitation amenities at the jetty.
These two issues dominated the gram sabha chaired by Sarpanch Savio D’Silva as members deliberated on formalin in fish and sanitation at the jetty at length. Members demanded that the FDA deploy men and machinery at the jetty to check the quality of fish brought in by the fishing vessels from the deep sea.
Some of the members pointed out that fishing vessels carry ice while venturing out in the sea for days together. They insisted FDA check the fish stored in this ice.
The absence of toilets for the thousands of migrant workers employed on the 200-odd fishing vessels also dominated the gram sabha. Agitated members pointed out that the Directorate of Fisheries has been negligent and not paid heed to the demand for eco-toilets by the panchayat.
The meeting took cognizance of the repeated failure of the Fisheries Director to build the 50 toilet blocks
proposed at the Cutbona fishing jetty around half a
decade ago.
Members felt that the Fisheries Director cannot abdicate its responsibility if the CRZ authority has not given its nod to the toilets, saying that nothing stops former from hiring mobile eco-toilets from the tourism department for the benefit of the migrant labourers.
Sarpanch Savio told the media after the meeting that the gram sabha has asked the panchayat to stop all fishing activities at the jetty if the sanitation issues are not resolved. “The panchayat will write to the Fisheries Director informing about the resolution adopted by the gram sabha not to give nod for fishing activity at the jetty on August 1 if issues relating to sanitation are not resolved by the government,” Savio added.
The meeting also discussed other issues including the demand made by the gram sabha to levy a fine of Rs 10,000 on the owners for failing to make the mandatory health cards for the migrant workers to check dengue.
A resolution was also adopted to demand a Crime Prevention Education Cell to educate the students on how to prevent crimes.
Members slammed the local power department for not responding to the emergency calls of the villagers, even as Sarpanch Savio claimed beer and liquor bottles were recently found dumped inside the power department property.
