Team Herald
CUTBONA: Cutbona boat owners, locals and the fishing community have slammed the government for not fulfilling its promise to develop the Cutbona fishing jetty.
The fisheries department wanted to develop Cutbona into a modern fishing village, and it promised the boat owners that it would build 50 Sulabh toilets for migrant labourers who worked on the boats. Locals earlier complained that the workers were defecating in the open.
The government acquired land near the jetty to construct the toilets, but nothing has happened for over a year as the proposal hasn’t been cleared by the administration. The locals might not see the toilets this year either.
Officials from Sulabh International stated that the fisheries department had sent them the proposal, but the same hadn’t been approved by the Town and Country Planning (TCP) and health department. An NOC from the latter was a must as the toilet project was close to a river. The project can start only after both authorities give their approval. The officials also disclosed that they need at least eight months to complete the project.
The boat owners also requested well-equipped communication facilities at the jetty to contact workers during an emergency. The government promised to look into the matter.
Last year, a woman died in the village following a dengue outbreak, which the locals blamed on the migrants. They demanded that the government provide sanitary facilities to labourers and make health cards compulsory for everyone working on fishing vessels.
Boat owners informed that the new fishing season would start from August 1, but some of their demands had not yet been fulfilled. The fishermen, who expect a good catch this year, hope the government cooperates with them for the development of Cutbona jetty.
