Fisheries Dept was directed by HC to monitor hygiene, other issues
PANAJI
In one matter pending before the Bombay High Court at Goa exposed extremely poor conditions at the largest Malim jetty and authorities largely ignored critical issues related to hygiene, sanitation and traffic management despite earlier warnings.
The Division Bench of Justices M S Karnik and Valmiki Menezes even observed that despite the magnitude of the problem, no government agency was willing to take accountability and there was a lack of coordination to resolve basic hygiene and traffic issues.
“The recommendations (of the inspection team) were rather vague and none of the departments/ agencies involved were willing to assume any responsibility despite acknowledging that much was required to be done at Malim jetty premises…” it stated after which Additional Government Advocate Siddhart Samant submitted that Director of Fisheries would be the Nodal Officer to comply with and secure the compliance of the recommendations in the joint inspection report.
The matter, through a contempt petition by the retired head of forensic medicine at Goa Medical College Dr Silvano Sapeco, pointed out the worsening situation over time due to lack of responsibility from the concerned agencies.
Glaring lapses
exposed
An inspection revealed glaring lapses in the maintenance and management of the Malim jetty. Starting from the administrative building of the sub-office at Malim Jetty, the officials besides the petitioner found that fishing nets and thermocol boxes were haphazardly dumped inside the premises. One side of the compound wall was found to be in a state of collapse.
Numerous unused vehicles were found abandoned along the roadside, which added to the congested road stretch outside. The petitioner also reported that the unauthorized parking of vehicles and illegal sale of fish occurred daily from 5 am to 10 pm. This congestion was only partially addressed by the district magistrate declaring the stretch as ‘no parking zones’ only recently.
Major hygiene
issues
Dr Sapeco also drew attention to the unhygienic conditions surrounding kiosks that operated near the jetty. The auction shed, a newly constructed area, was found to have an uneven floor which was leading to water accumulation. Moreover, the drains, although allegedly being cleaned, did not function efficiently. All these, the petitioner cited, were further contributing to the unsanitary conditions.
It was only after this that the Porvorim Primary Health Centre instructed the Mandovi Fishermen Marketing Cooperative Society officials to issue directions to all the boat owners to cover all their dingis/ vessels with tarpaulin or keep the dingis inverted before the monsoon as a precautionary measure.
The inspection, nonetheless, also revealed some positive changes within the jetty premises with the Cooperative Society placing dustbins for waste collection.
Environmental impact
The joint inspection also revealed that the lack of proper fencing at the jetty has resulted in rotten fish and other waste being dumped directly into the Mandovi River. Dr Sapeco further raised concerns over the presence of 47 illegal kiosks operating on government property after which the Bench ordered immediate action against encroachment.
Monitoring cleanliness
and hygiene
The court expressed utter dissatisfaction with the unwillingness of authorities to take decisive action even as it observed the recommendations by the inspection team were vague.
“We again place responsibility on the Director of Fisheries to ensure that cleanliness and hygiene are maintained at the Malim jetty and its peripherals. If any such works have to be done by Mandovi Fishermen Marketing Co-operative Society Ltd or the concerned Village Panchayat, it will be for the Director of Fisheries to coordinate with these agencies and ensure that hygienic cleanliness standards are observed and maintained at all times.
Further, the court directed the panchayat to take proactive steps to prevent garbage from being dumped into government properties or the Mandovi River. Strict action was ordered against those responsible for unauthorized dumping. In addition, the Village Panchayat of Penha-de-France was directed to maintain cleanliness and hygienic conditions outside the jetty.
“The Panchayat should also take steps to prevent garbage from being deposited on government property, unauthorized structures or any other unauthorized places in the vicinity. The Panchayat must be vigilant when there are any attempts to dispose of garbage into the Mandovi River and take strict action against those involved in such activities,” the Court ordered.
Fish water
spillage concerns
The Court, acknowledging concerns raised in the petition, cited dangers posed by vehicles spilling fish water onto the roads. Dr Sapeco claimed these were resulting in accidents in addition to unsanitary conditions. To this, the court directed the Director of Fisheries to ensure that the RTO and police departments tackle the issue.
As the Bench already observed non-coordination during the ongoing hearing, it also instructed the director to report any non-cooperation from agencies directly to the court.
No compliance on
undertakings by officials
The Bench also made a categorical note that in such matters, they experienced that officials give undertakings but rarely comply with. “Normally, when any officer gets transferred, this Court is reluctant to initiate a contempt petition against the incumbent. Therefore, it has become routine to give undertakings but not comply with them. In this case, this usual approach must be avoided at all costs,” it stated.
