Daijiworld Media Network- Margao

Margao, Aug 20: In response to rising health and sanitation concerns among fishing trawler workers, the Goa government has announced immediate remedial measures at the Cutbona jetty, pledging to improve basic facilities and curb the spread of diseases.

At a high-level meeting held at the secretariat on Monday, Fisheries Secretary Prasanna Acharya said that tackling the health crisis at the jetty was a top government priority, with steps being rolled out to ensure better hygiene, sanitation and safe drinking water.

As part of the initiative, the state will provide free toilet facilities through Sulabh International, operationalising the newly built 50-seater toilet block to end the practice of open defecation—identified as a major cause of health hazards in the area.

In addition, arrangements will be made for a steady supply of filtered drinking water to meet both drinking and cooking needs of trawler workers, thereby preventing the outbreak of water-borne illnesses.

The government also decided that the Fisheries Department, in collaboration with the Velim panchayat, will ensure regular garbage collection—both dry and wet—at the jetty to address long-standing problems of waste accumulation and unsanitary conditions.

The meeting further reviewed ongoing health screening programmes for trawler workers to detect early signs of water and vector-borne diseases. Acharya assured that all stakeholders would be taken into confidence to implement long-term improvements at the jetty.

Those present included Fisheries Director Shamila Monteiro, representatives of GoaCAN, local panchayat members, state epidemiologist Dr Utkarsh Betodkar, health department officials and fisheries cooperative leaders.