NT Reporter
Margao
Nearly a month after the Fisheries Department issued its nod to Velim panchayat to take over garbage management at Cutbona jetty, the panchayat has finally issued a work order to a private agency.
Sarpanch Veena Cardozo said that a comprehensive work order had been assigned to Eco Clean.
“The work order had been issued for Rs 80,000 per month and will cover the collection of dry waste at the jetty,” she said.
Simultaneously, the department has deployed a workforce to eliminate persistent water accumulation spots and clean the entire facility. Workers were seen cleaning the new jetty, clearing waterlogged sites and abandoned fishing trays, and removing piles of garbage at
the jetty.
Concerns over health and hygiene at the jetty have resurfaced following the detection of dengue cases among jetty workers.
Health officials found mosquito breeding sites inside the broken and waterlogged hulls of several parked and derelict fishing vessels at the jetty,
putting the long-standing issue of abandoned and unidentified trawlers under renewed focus. A joint inspection involving officials from the health, fisheries and district administration departments has been scheduled for September 4.
The department, however, faces challenges in removing several unclaimed dinghies and fishing nets kept at the jetty despite having no sanction from the department.
Meanwhile, the directive issued by the Director of Fisheries sets a mandatory framework for all active fishing boat owners and masters.
Boat owners have been ordered to designate a specialised nodal officer for every operating vessel to enforce vector-control
protocols.
The details of these officers must be immediately filed with the jetty’s Assistant Superintendent of Fisheries.
The advisory directs the complete elimination of stagnant water on canoes, immediate turning over of inactive dinghies and proper drainage modifications on tyre fenders to prevent water from pooling. Owners have also been warned against open littering of plastic bottles, coconut shells and old fish crates.
The government has also mandated routine health surveillance at local primary health centres (PHCs) for the large influx of migrant labourers. Owners must cooperate with local health departments during unexpected inspections and ensure that any worker developing suspicious fever symptoms is taken directly for medical monitoring.
