MARGAO
Can the government ever claim that it has rejuvenated the river Sal without fixing the sewerage and sanitation issues at the Cutbona fishing jetty “ the fishing hub, playing host to thousands of migrant labourers during the peak fishing season?
A glance at the Sal river action plan for the rejuvenation of the lifeline of Salcete throws some light on the measures intended to mitigate the sewage disposal at the Cutbona jetty.
The report states as follows: “The Fisheries Department has proposed to construct additional 50-seater toilet blocks with Sewage Treatment Plant at Cutbona Jetty for the fishermen and also make arrangements for collection and disposal of waste fish at the jetty within the next six months, at a proposed estimated cost of Rs 50.29 lakh and Rs 62.21 lakh respectively.”
The Action Plan on River Sal rejuvenation was prepared around February 2019, but the proposed 50-seater toilet block is yet to fall in place at the jetty. Instead, one has only come across the Fisheries Department and the Health officials involved in a blame game over the delay in the construction of the toilet block for the migrant labourers, throwing up questions whether the river Sal rejuvenation will be complete without fixing the sanitary and sewage disposal issues at the Cutbona fishing jetty.
A visit to the Cutbona fishing jetty only reveals that a lone Sulabh toilet, besides two eco-toilets are in place at the jetty.
Be it the Velim Panchayat, Velim Civic and Consumer Forum and local residents of Cutbona, they have been demanding construction of the 50-seater toilet block for the migrant crew employed on the fishing vessels operating from Cutbona. Velim panchayat member Veena Cardozo, representing Cutbona ward, pointed out that there’s a proposal to fix the sanitation problem at the jetty for years now, but in vain.
Sarpanch Savio D’Silva also echoed similar sentiments, saying the proposal is hanging fire for reasons best known to the Fisheries Department when the Velim Panchayat had issued the NOC long ago.
GOACAN coordinator, Roland Martins informed that the NGO has moved the Deputy Collector, Margao Jyoti Kumari with a plea to call for a meeting of the stakeholders to discuss the requirement of mobile toilets at the jetty, the construction of the 50-seater toilet block, the setting up of a Sewage Treatment Plant (STP), proper cleanliness and waste management and regular meetings of the Jetty Management Committee.
“Besides sanitation, the stakeholders should meet to discuss the threat of vector borne diseases and other pending issues of the Cutbona fishing jetty. Malaria and dengue had raised its ugly head in and around the Cutbona fishing jetty in the past, affecting the residents. Past experience has shown that if preventive steps are not put in place it could lead to deaths. The present second deadly wave of the Covid-19 pandemic has already traumatised people and the spread of vector borne disease will only create an additional burden,” Martins added.
