SATURDAY, APRIL 27, 2024
Team Herald
MARGAO: The tussle between the South Goa Planning and Development Authority (SGPDA) and the wholesale traders who bring the bulk of Goa’s fish from their States, has taken an interesting turn. South Goa’s Planning body, which controls the main fish and fruit market will discuss the allegation made against them, by the Margao Wholesale Fishmarket Association in their writ petition that the SGPDA has “ulterior motives” behind incessantly delaying giving the clearance for the opening of the wholesale fish market.
The High Court, in an interim order, has granted time for the two parties to reach an amicable solution, mentioned this charge. The bench of Justice M.S. Sonak and M.S. Jawalkar stated in its interim order dated June 16, that “The petitioners have already made allegations in their petition, namely that the opening of the wholesale fish market is being delayed by the SGPDA for reasons which according to them are extraneous”
The High Court maintained that “for the present”, it is not possible to adjudicate on these allegations.
However, the High Court further stated that the SGPDA “cannot resist” opening of the wholesale fish market on the basis of “vague conditions at Clause H”.
Clause H is in the list of conditions put forth by SGDPA and according to the SGPDA counsel in the High Court A.D Bhobe, Clause H “refers to “interested parties/ associations/ traders may contact the SGPDA for further guidelines during office hours"
This has been found to be “vague”. The SGPDA counsel also said that Clause H refers to restrictions on the number of persons or vehicles operating in the market.
It is clear that the SGPDA, whose Chairperson is Wilfred D Sa aka Babashan, one of the Congress turncoat MLAs (from Nuvem) who defected to the BJP, is not quite in the mood to give an easy run to the wholesale fish market association going by the series of communications between the wholesalers and the Sough Goa planning body. (See box).
Interestingly the Collector South Goa’s order of May 9, 2020 to open the market still holds. South Goa Collector Ajit Roy told Herald, “The order was issued in the context of MHA guidelines of restarting markets etc in the same manner as they were functioning before the lockdown”. It may be recalled that when this was discussed later, the SGPDA stated that the wholesale fish market is their property and that they would decide when it had to open and about the conditions imposed.
Meanwhile, the Member Secretary of the SGPDA Vertika Dagur, has taken serious cognisance of the High Court order, especially noting the charge of “ulterior motives” made by the wholesale traders and using its own phrase to describe the charge, calling it “extraneous”. Apparently, Dagur, reportedly being a no-nonsense officer asked senior members of the SGPDA, which include MLAs from South Goa constituencies why this charge, which may have alluded to corruption within the SGPDA, was leveled. She was upset in that meeting and asked senior MLAs, which included three former Chief Ministers, “Is money being asked for in SGPDA’s name”. Asked specifically by Herald to comment on this she said “It was supposed to be a closed-door meeting. I’m not going to discuss details”
Asked further about the High Court’s mention of the word “extraneous”, she said “We are holding a meeting tomorrow to discuss the High Court’s observations of June 16. I will raise this issue (the charge of SGPDA holding back permission for the functioning of the wholesale market for extraneous reasons) specifically.
Herald tried to reach the man in the eye of the storm Wilfred D Sa Chairman SGPDA, for a reaction to the allegation of “ulterior motives” behind “resisting” (High Court’s term) opening the wholesale market. He steadfastly refused to respond.
The foundation of the tussle is that the wholesale traders who get the bulk of their fish from outside Goa but also have local Goan members who fish within the State, want to restart the market. The SGPDA, purportedly wants greater scrutiny on the vehicles and people coming in and insists on greater checks to ascertain the quality of the fish after the controversy over the presence of formaldehyde or formalin in the fish brought in from outside Goa.
While this has not been explicitly mentioned in writing member secretary Dagur told Herald “We are considering appointing a person from FDA at the market to check the fish entering”.
The wholesale fish traders have sensed this move and in their petition itself stated that the fish is being inspected and checked (for formalin and overall quality) at the Pollem and Patradevi check posts.
As always fish is not just a dish in Goa. Its trade is laced with one-upmanship, politics and everything else that goes with it. It’s power play at its best and the season is only starting.
