TEAM HERALD
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PONDA: While supporting the trawler owners protesting against the diesel price hike, the Ponda Market Association has however insisted that the fish market will remain partially open in Ponda on Tuesday with the sale of local fish in the interest of people and the fish vendors.
“We totally support the demand of the trawler owners, but the fish market will remain open. The fish vendors and local fishermen are totally dependent on their daily sale,” Bhudhwarpeth Vyapari Sangathana (Ponda) President Shankar Naik told Herald.
It may be recalled that the trawlers owners, who are on indefinite strike in protest against hike in diesel price, have urged the fish vendors to support them in their agitation.
“Since the trawlers are anchored in protest against a diesel price hike, there won’t be fish in the market and the fish markets will be virtually closed,” informed Naik.
“However, the fish market will be partially open to sell only local fish. Since there will be shortage of fish in the market, we won’t bring fish from the neighbouring states in support of the protesting trawler owners,” added Naik.
Meanwhile, fearing shortage of fish, some hoteliers in Ponda have reportedly purchased fish in bulk to ensure sufficient stocks for the next few days.
Incidentally, some hoteliers were ignorant about the strike by the trawler operators. “I am not aware of the trawler owners strike, but there was shortage of fish in the Ponda market on Sunday. Majority of our customers prefer vegetarian dishes on Monday and we did not purchase fish,” said Bharat Sahi, a hotel manager from Ponda.
“We serve fresh fish to our esteemed customers and we buy fish from the Ponda market daily. But if there is a shortage of fish, people will opt for chicken dishes,” said Sahi. However, though there was some shortage of fish, it did not lead to a surge in fish prices in the market.
“We haven’t increased the selling price, but if the price at the wholesale market is hiked, we will have no other choice but to increase our rates,” said Varsha Fadte, a fish vendor at Ponda market.
