Team Herald

MARGAO: The South Goa Planning and Development Authority (SGPDA) has asked the fish vendors at its retail market to pay their outstanding dues to the Authority for a collaborated effort to keep the market in order. There are nearly 144 stalls in and market and of which several are being used for the last 17 years without having paid the money towards allotment. 

SGPDA Member Secretary Ashok Kumar said, “Approximately Rs 90 lakh is outstanding as fees for stall allotment to the fish vendors. Only 11 have paid the amount in full and the rest 133 haven’t paid the fees since 2002 (commissioning date) either fully or partly.”

The SGPDA fish market stalls were allotted to various persons at a cost of Rs 97,000 or more. Even as the allotment process was completed, several fishermen have still not paid the money towards the allotment of the same. The SGPDA and the TCP Minister Vijai Sardesai after inspecting the work of the market requested the fishermen to pay the unpaid amount. “We request the fishermen to pay the amount as outstanding 17 years ago or give an affidavit stating that they will pay the same,” TCP minister said during the inspection. 

The President of the Fish Vendors Association at SGPDA market, Felix Fernandes has thanked the minister for having taken up the upgradation of the market. He also said that the fishermen won’t be able to pay the amount at the present stage, but have agreed to give affidavit of paying the same in the next one year. 

Vijai said, “Our request to fishermen to pay the money is to enable the SGPDA to deliver better services to the fish vendors of Margao. We will go ahead with enhanced facilities of sanitation and others soon.”

He said that the request for payment was aimed at making the market the best in the country and not aimed at making profit.

It is also learnt that the Chief Minister has been requested to attend the inauguration of the market.