TEAM HERALD
MARGAO: With no sign of a let up in the number of dengue cases in Cutbona, irate local residents on Friday told the migrant workers to leave the residential locality by closing down the net mending sheds.
In another development, the Velim Panchayat has issued notices to the boat owners and the residents to clean up their premises and maintain hygiene and sanitation within 15 days or face action. Sarpanch Melvyn Sanches informed that the Panchayat has also issued notices on the boat owners to get their migrant workers registered at the Cuncolim police station.
Friday saw two more dengue cases detected in the locality, taking the number of cases to 13. A local resident and President of the Cutbona Boat Owners Union Seby Cardozo told the media that dengue has affected a five member family, residing close to a fish mending net employing the migrant labour.
He said around 75 local residents on Friday moved in the locality to get the migrants to pack their bags and immediately leave the area. “The net mending activities had brought these migrant labourers close to the residential locality. The family staying close to the fish mending net shed is the worst affected with as many as five members affected by dengue fever. Today, the mother and their maid was taken to the hospital after the duo tested positive for dengue”, he said.
Incidentally, the adjoining house of Panch ward member Veena Cardozo has also been affected by the dengue. Both Veena and her son have been hospitalised in a city based private hospital.
Seby told the media that the locals will no longer entertain migrant labour in their residential locality or the net mending sheds. “We have set 10 day deadline on the Velim Panchayat to initiate action or face action. The people should not be blamed for untoward incident”, he said.
Replying to a question, he said that boat owners can carry out their fish mending activities right on the acquired land at the jetty. “We have around 19,000 sq.mts of land acquired for the activity. The boat owners can also avail bathing facilities for their workers at the jetty itself instead of creating separate facility close to the residential locality,” Seby added.
