A stitch in time could have saved nine, complain Cutbona locals who are living in fear as dengue has struck for a second time and the health department has come under heavy criticism for failing to prevent the incident. A lady had passed away two years ago due to dengue while on Monday two dengue cases had been reported as confirmed.
It is the grouse of the Velim panchayat that they had anticipated this situation and thus had written to the health department before the onset of the fishing season. At that point of time, the health department did not carry out the inspection as requested by the panchayat claiming that there was no cause for concern. However, locals point out that in the month of July and August, when the migrant labourers returned, no proper screening was done to check them or to check the living conditions and other facilities like net mending. They blame the health department for only reacting now after the incident took place and have even lamented that the Balli Primary Health Centre located at a considerable distance is ill-equipped and thus could not carry out the fogging exercises in time nor send staff for immediate inspections. While Velim MLA, Benjamin Silva has instructed the health department to carry out fogging exercises, the health department stated that they are monitoring the situation and keeping tabs on the blood samples taken.
It maybe recalled that last year, a high level inspection was carried out by the Deputy Collector, Sangeeta Naik along with officials from the fisheries department, Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB), health department and village panchayat over concerns raised over possible health hazards due to poor sanitary conditions for migrants involved in net mending activity. Locals had at that time demanded that the net mending activity near Cutbona jetty be shifted out of the area.
