Team Herald
MARGAO: Taking a serious note of the five cholera-related deaths, the Fisheries Department on Monday announced that water samples of all bore wells located near the Cutbona Jetty will be tested.
The department instructed boat owners to remove their vessels from the jetty and maintain proper hygiene. These decisions were taken during a meeting between the Fisheries Department, Deputy Collector Ganesh Bharve and Cutbona Jetty boat owners.
Assuring that all corrective measures at the Cutbona jetty will be implemented within two weeks, Fisheries Minister Nilkanth Halarnkar informed that a property survey has commenced and acknowledged that long-standing issues.
Emphasising the government’s systematic efforts to address these issues, Halarnkar also announced that a task force has been approved and suggested increased police patrolling. He mentioned that the Chief Minister has issued directives regarding past lapses on fishing vessels and jetties.
Benaulim MLA Venzy Viegas expressed his concern over the CM’s recent directive requiring boat
owners to pay Rs 25 lakh as compensation in case of a labourer’s death in future.
Viegas said that this amount is high and could lead to the closure of businesses at the jetties, severely impacting the livelihood of traditional boat owners.
The MLA has urged the government to reconsider the decision
and emphasised the potential economic repercussions for the local fishing community.