The South Goa Planning and Development Authority’s (SGPDA) wholesale fish market has been in a mess for years with the stench becoming synonymous with the market due to a lack of accountability.
There were several complaints made to several authorities including SGPDA, MMC, Fisheries Department and District Collectorate regarding garbage collection, hygiene and cleanliness. The residents of Madel and surrounding areas and even commuters travelling along the Fatorda-Seraulim road through the market are forced to bear the stench.
Incidentally, the market caught the attention of Clean Margao Green Margao, who recently cleaned the area and also of the MMC, which carried out a cleanliness drive in Fatorda.
In the past too, there such drives were carried out but blame game ensued when it came to fixing the responsibility where departments like PWD were blamed for not providing enough water or the contractor concerned for not cleaning the drains.
The SGPDA had also informed the courts that they would install an Effluent Treatment Plant at the site.
However, in a bid to put an end to the confusion and solve the problems of consumers and fish vendors, the SGPDA at its meeting decided to bring in a series of measures to improve the fish market. At the meeting chaired by chairman Mauvin Godinho and attended by MLAs – Digambar Kamat and Vijai Sardesai and others, the SGPDA has planned to hot mix the area after monsoon and upgrade the facilities at the market. The SGPDA had decided to put a stop to the retail sale at the wholesale fish market after 9 am. This was to solve the issue of the wholesale market vendors selling fish at retail price thus creating problems for the vendors at the retail fish market.
“We are confident that the measures will not only stop the retail sale of fish in the wholesale fish market but will help put the retail fish sale in the PDA market in order,” Godinho added.
He pointed out how the vendors at the retail fish market sit on the ground and not on the platforms because of the sale of retail fish at the wholesale fish market. They had promised to adhere to the designated spots if retail sale at the wholesale fish market is stopped and they are not deprived of their business. SGPDA also expects that the move will bring down the retail price of fish at both the markets. This has also been a long pending demand of the fish vendors at the retail market.
The closing of the retail sale at the fish market will start by October- end while the hot mixing is expected to begin in November. Recently, a Sulabh toilet was set up at the SGPDA market complex by the PWD at a cost of Rs 11 lakh and more facilities are being reviewed by SGPDA.
“The SGPDA has received proposals from the Goa State Urban Development Agency and National Fisheries Board to develop the wholesale fish market. Decisions on the same will be taken after consulting with the stakeholders and after taking the people of Margao into confidence,” Godinho said.
Madel-based activists have approached all the authorities concerned in the past but those efforts went in vain.
“Many times in the past, the SGDPA has spoken on how they are taking a stand on the mess created at wholesale fish market at Margao but the issue dies a natural death only for the same issue to crop up again after some months or days. At this point, the same ideas and plans are talked about but are never implemented by the SGPDA for reasons best known to them,” said Laurel Abranches, Shadow Council member.
