MARGAO
How long will the boat owners have to foot the bill for the makeshift portable toilets set up at the Cutbona fishing jetty post-dengue and cholera at the jetty?
This question was posed to Environment Minister Aleixo Sequeira by the mechanised boat owners on Thursday, who have been directed to foot the bill of the makeshift sanitation facility amounting to Rs 10 lakh a month.
Sequeira was categorical in saying that the 30 makeshift toilets, besides urinals and bath cubicles will remain at the jetty till the 50-seater toilet block takes concrete shape. Boat owners, however, pointed out that they have to shell out Rs 10 lakh for the current month for the makeshift toilet block, expressing their inability to contribute the money for the next month. “We return from the sea without any catch. And, we have to bear this cost of sanitation. Hope the government will understand our problem,” remarked Sebastian Cardozo.
The Environment Minister, however, said the makeshift toilet block will remain in operation till the 50-seater toilet block takes shape. “We can negotiate with the agency that has set up the makeshift facility,” he added.
