A joint inspection at Cutbona Jetty, South Goa, has exposed serious lapses by boat owners and government agencies, following a cholera and dengue outbreak that claimed six lives and left over a hundred infected, primarily migrant workers.
The inspection, held on Friday, 6th September, was led by Deputy Collector Ganesh Barve, along with Deputy Collector Rajesh Redkar, health officials, Local MLA Cruz Silva, representatives of the Boat Owners’ Association, NGO Consumer Forum, and local panchayat members
The joint inspection revealed a lack of proper sanitation and hygiene at the jetty, contributing to the outbreak. Deputy Collector Barve noted that there is no conducive environment at the jetty, with sanitation facilities either unused or inadequate.
The newly built jetty has become a dumping ground for abandoned fishing vessels, creating unsanitary living conditions for workers residing in these derelict boats. Toilets constructed by the Fisheries Department remain unused, and public sanitation facilities like Sulabh Shauchalaya are non-functional. Waste and untreated water are being discharged directly into the river, further exacerbating the health risks
Local MLA Cruz Silva expressed his concern over the poor utilization of government funds, pointing out that the state has spent crores to build the jetty and toilet facilities. However, issues like unreliable electricity supply have rendered these facilities unusable. "While over 3,000 workers are employed at the jetty, only about 100 use the available toilets. Where are the others relieving themselves?" Silva asked, attributing this to the cholera outbreak
Although dengue cases were denied by health officers, the Primary Health Centre (PHC) Balli is screening 200 workers per day for cholera symptoms, urging them to drink boiled water, wash hands properly, and avoid sharing personal items. Measures to contain the outbreak are in progress, with water samples being collected and lab tests being conducted
Every time there’s an epidemic, agencies react but fail to maintain hygiene at the jetty on a regular basisRonald Martins , Goa Consumer Forum
Fisheries Department collects fees regularly but providing no essential facilities for the workers.Savio D’Silva, Biat Owner
This is not the first time such an inspection has occurred. Years ago, a similar joint inspection highlighted the same lapses, with directives issued to the Fisheries Department to clear the scrap boats and bring unused jetty infrastructure into service. However, no action was taken, leaving locals doubtful that this recent inspection will lead to meaningful improvements
Despite the urgent concerns raised, there are fears that without consistent enforcement, these issues will persist, continuing to jeopardize the health and safety of workers at Cutbona Jetty.