The area around Malim Jetty, which is below the Mandovi Bridge, is in a pathetic condition. Over 30 fish vendors carry out their business there, due to which the area has developed an unbearable stench of waste, including rotten fish.
People from Porvorim and Britona visit this spot to buy fresh fish, especially in the morning and evening; office-goers buying fish while heading home in the evening is a common sight. The fish is brought directly from trawlers at the Malim jetty. From the lack of a fish-waste dumping ground to the absence of toilet facilities, the site is an eyesore.
Following requests from fisherwomen, the panchayat had constructed a fish shed through Larson & Toubro, which is constructing the third Mandovi Bridge. The Public Works Department (PWD) has also provided a water connection to this shed. Porvorim MLA Rohan Khaunte, while inaugurating this structure in October, requested the fisherwomen to shift there.
Some fish vendors have started selling their fish at the shed, but the work of cleaning and cutting the same is carried out at the old place.
Britona resident Peter Fernandes stated that the panchayat should make it compulsory for all fish vendors to sell their fish in the shed. He added, “From the hygiene point of view, the panchayat should not permit cleaning and cutting of fish in the open. If required, the panchayat should make separate arrangements for them.”
Illegal kiosks have come up at both entrances of the Mandovi Fishermen Marketing Co-op Society (MFMCS) at Malim Jetty and cause traffic congestion and accidents during peak hours. Buses from Calangute to Panjim ply via the Betim-Malim route, while trucks that come to the Malim Jetty to transport fish are parked beside the road. Additionally, the garbage of this area is being dumped in the open space beside the MFMSC premises.
The issue of illegal fish kiosks and garbage has been raised repeatedly by the villagers at the gram sabhas. The panchayat had replied that it did not give permission for these kiosks, and hence, they are illegal. Therefore, the villagers demanded that the same should be removed immediately and the panchayat assured to take action, but nothing has been done thereafter.
When contacted panch Subhash Kalangutkar stated that these illegal kiosks fall in the road-widening area and the PWD is going to start the work soon. He further said, “The panchayat has also received an order from the High Court directing it to keep this area clean and not to permit structures there. The panchayat had already issued notices to the kiosk owners, directing them to remove their kiosks as they hindered traffic.”
