MARGAO: The Margao municipality on Tuesday made it clear that the Municipalities Act does not have a provision for issuing trade licence to the Wholesale Fish Market Association, an umbrella organisation, for operating in open space.  

This was clarified to the members of the Wholesale Fish Market Association by Municipal Chairperson Babita Angle Prabhudesai on Wednesday, when they called on her to apply for municipal trade licence. The traders were led by their President Maulana Ibrahim.

Without the trade licence, the wholesale traders are unable to apply for the licence from the Food and Drugs Authority to restart their business at the SGPDA wholesale fish market.

When the chairperson informed them about the lack legal basis for issuing trade licence, the members requested her that in case the municipality cannot issue a trade license, that she should give it in writing so that they can submit it to the FDA. The chairperson said that the chief officer would study the matter and issue them a letter accordingly.

Counciller Rupesh Mathme who is also a member of SGPDA, the owner of the whole sale fish market, informed that the PDA will have to sign an agreement with the association in order for the association to get a trade license.

Briefing the press, President Maula Ibrahim praised the Health Minister Vishvajit Rane for taking steps to restart the wholesale trade and said that they are ready to comply with the FDA guidelines to provide chemical free, fresh fish. 

“The FDA is asking us to get the trade licence but the municipality is saying they cannot give us the license since it is not in their jurisdiction. We have come to meet the chairperson to ask her to give us a letter stating that the municipality cannot give us a trade license,” Ibrahim said.

Ibrahim also said that since the ban , the wholesalers have suffered huge loss and that most of the traders are without any work.