MARGAO: The traders of wholesale fish market on Tuesday complained against Milagres Fernandes, the levy charges and maintenance contractor of South Goa Planning and Development Authority (SGPDA) wholesale market for allegedly demanding illegally money (hafta) from the vendors and traders.
The traders said that they won’t pay the levy charges from today (March 30) and have also demanded for immediate arrest of Fernandes for spreading rumours about formaldehyde in fish, creating fear in the minds of general public.
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The traders’ association has registered a complaint at Fatorda Police Station stating that Fernandes is illegally demanding money from the vendors and traders of SGPDA Margao Wholesale Fish Market.
“Fernandes, who acts as contractor to collect the market fees from the vehicles carrying fish into the Margao Wholesale Market is appointed without any tender or work order from the SGPDA. More particularly, apart from the fees, extra money is being demanded from the traders. Fernandes has engaged his own private bouncers in the wholesale fish market who threatens the traders of undersigned association and harasses them and illegally demands money from the vendors and traders,” alleged M Ibrahim, president of the association.
“It’s important to mention that the entry of fish in the State of Goa is otherwise monitored and checked for presence of formaldehyde by the Food and Drugs Department, Government of Goa at the entry check point. The State government and Health Department, Government of Goa have set up adequate facilities for safety and hygiene of fish brought and sold in Goa. However, Fernandes is instigating false rumours and creating fear in minds of the people that the traders of undersigned association are selling fish with formaldehyde, thereby creating fear psychosis in the minds of the general public,” the association alleged.
