Joint inspection at Cutbona jetty reveals serious lapses by boat owners and govt agencies amid cholera, dengue outbreaks

Team Herald

CUNCOLIM: A joint inspection conducted at Cutbona Jetty in South Goa on September 6 has uncovered significant lapses on the part of boat owners and various government agencies, coinciding with a cholera and dengue outbreak that has resulted in the deaths of six migrant workers and left over a hundred others infected.

The inspection was led by Deputy Collector along with health officials, local MLA Cruz Silva, members of the Boat Owners Association, representatives from the NGO Consumer Forum, and local panchayat members. The findings revealed numerous deficiencies at the jetty, highlighting the negligence of the Fisheries Department, Health Department and boat owners.

Deputy Collector Ganesh Barve, who oversaw the inspection, acknowledged the lack of a conducive environment at the jetty, citing inadequate sanitation facilities. The newly constructed but unused jetty has become a dumping ground for scrap boats, while abandoned fishing vessels have turned into makeshift residences for workers, contributing to unsanitary conditions. Toilets built by the Fisheries Department remain unused, and the Sulabh Shauchalay facilities are not operational. Additionally, untreated waste and garbage have been discharged into the river, exacerbating the cholera and dengue outbreaks.

Barve informed the media that the Public Health Centre (PHC) in Balli is actively screening the area, collecting samples, and monitoring workers suffering from diarrhea and vomiting and also instructed health officials to test the water supplied to boats via tankers.

Local MLA Cruz Silva expressed frustration over the situation, stating that the government has invested crores of rupees in constructing the jetty and toilets, yet they remain ineffective. He noted that while over 3,000 workers are present at Cutbona, only about a hundred are utilizing the available toilet facilities daily, raising concerns about hygiene and contributing to the cholera outbreak.

Health officials have denied reports of dengue cases at Cutbona, but they are monitoring the cholera outbreak through the Occupational Health Centre (OHC). The health department is screening approximately two hundred workers daily and promoting awareness about the importance of drinking boiled water, proper handwashing, and avoiding crowded places.

Roland Martins from the Goa Consumer Forum criticised government agencies for their failure to maintain hygiene at Cutbona Jetty, stating that they only respond during epidemic outbreaks. Boat owner and politician Savio D’Silva attributed the issues to the Fisheries Department, which he claims is more focused on collecting fees than providing necessary facilities.

Tragically, it has been reported that five migrant workers employed on various fishing boats have lost their lives, while many others have fallen ill. A similar joint inspection conducted by a magistrate several years ago identified the same lapses, urging the Fisheries Department to clear scrap boats and make the unused jetty and toilets operational. However, little progress has been made, leading locals to express skepticism about whether this latest inspection will yield positive results.