CUNCOLIM: Deputy Collector Jyoti Kumari on Tuesday along with Medical Officer of Balli Health Centre Dr Mamata Kakodkar carried out a joint inspection of the Cutbona jetty. Sarpanch of Velim Panchayat Savio D’Silva, who accompanied the Deputy Collector said, “Such type of inspections were carried out many times but nothing changed. Hope this joint inspection will help us bring the discipline at the jetty.”
About 3,500 workers work at the Cutbona jetty during the fishing season. The inspection was held to find out what measures need to be taken to provide proper facilities to these workers and to prevent the spread of diseases such as malaria, dengue and other vector-borne diseases.
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Kumari said that her priority is to immediately remove the unattended abandoned boats and other encroaching materials at the jetty.
Sarpanch Savio, who owns a boat, alleged that the Fisheries Department is responsible for all the irregularities at the jetty.
“The jetty is owned and managed by the Fisheries Department and with the blessings of the officials one can see how some individuals encroached the government property to set up shops and for other illegalities such as land filling,” he alleged.
“The panchayat was ready to take action against all the illegal constructions if the Fisheries Department lodged a complaint and empowered the panchayat,” he claimed.
Savio also alleged that many illegal boats are engaged in fishing business. Some boat owners have two to three boats registered under one boat. The officials need to stop all these illegalities with the iron fist.
Roland Martins of GOACAN said that it has been revealed that many illegal and unruly businesses are operating at the jetty. The registration numbers given by the Fisheries Department are not prominently displayed on the boats. As a result, it is not clear which boats are legal and illegal.
“The authorities and stakeholders need to ensure that the diseases such as malaria, dengue and other diseases do not spread,” he said.
Kumari said that all efforts will be made to keep the Cutbona jetty clean and disease free. The government will find out a remedy to resolve all the problems of the jetty in a phased manner.
The doctors said that all the boat owners need to cooperate in issuing health cards to the workers at the beginning of the fishing season and raising awareness about malaria, dengue and other vector-borne diseases.
Martins said that a room will be allotted at the Fisheries Department building to set-up vector-borne diseases clinic.
