Vasco: Stepping up the ante, local fish vendors from Vasco continued to protest for the third day against the Mormugao Municipal Council (MMC).
They are upset that the civic body has failed to intervene and resolve the issue. It may be recalled that the local fish vendors have alleged that migrant fish vendors are illegally selling fish at various places in Vasco and they had demanded that the MMC stop such activity.
On Tuesday, the fish vendors sat outside the Vasco fish market near Khariawada. The vendors, who are on a silent protest, took on the scorching heat, which meant the customers had to deal with the heat as well. The agitated vendors refused to move back to the market premises and criticised the MMC for failing to take action, while explaining why they had decided to protest. They also emphasised that this is a matter of their bread and butter and that their livelihood is at stake. They pointed out that a group of fish vendors had visited MMC Chairperson Nandadeep Raut and other councillors in the hope that the issue of migrant selling fish outside the fish market is solved once and for all.
“We were given assurances by the MMC chairperson and councillors that within a few days they will solve this issue, but unfortunately nothing has been done and the migrants are doing their business outside the fish market without being disturbed,” said a fish vendor.
Chief of the fish vendors of Vasco, Caridade Pereira expressed her unhappiness over the situation and opined that the municipal authorities have simply given lip service to them and that in reality, the authorities have not taken any interest to stop the illegal sale of fish by the migrant women outside the Vasco fish market area.
Pereira added that, the migrant fish vendors sell fish outside KTC bus stand in the dusk and that there are three to four migrant fish vendors, who conduct their business near Vaddem lake. “Not even once has a municipal inspector or any competent authority taken any stringent steps to stop such illegalities,” she added.
“What is the purpose of building a multi-storey fish market building and spending crores of rupees, when the illegal sale of fish continues outside the market premises and the authorities appear not to have any mechanism to keep tabs on such activity, “ she questioned.
Responding to a query, she confirmed that they would only return to the fish market premises, once the problem is solved.
Sources from the MMC stated that the Chairperson Raut is looking into the matter and that they are working at finding a solution soon.
