There was recently a spat between fish vendors at the market in Vasco and the fish vendors operating by the roadside near the KTC bus stand. The fish market vendors have been demanding action against those selling fish illegally on the roadside thereby affecting their business. The fish vendors at the market have every right to be aggrieved as they pay the tax (sopo) to the civic body. However the municipal body does not get any income from those selling fish by the roadside who are mostly migrant vendors. These migrant fish vendors also sell fish door-to-door, thereby affecting the traditional fish vendors who do business at the fish market. It thus seems absolutely necessary to stop the migrants from selling fish.
The question to be asked is from where do these migrant fish vendors get the fish to carry out the business? Obviously they do not have fishing boats neither do they go fishing with a fishing rod. They get the fish from the whole-sale fish vendors. Hence if these wholesale vendors do not sell the fish at a wholesale price to these migrant vendors, their business activities will automatically come to a stop. Hence instead of creating a law-and-order problem, the market fish vendors should see to it that fish is not sold to these migrant fish vendors at the wholesale market at the wholesale price.
It is pertinent to note that not only fish but also fruits and vegetables are sold by the roadside in the Port Town. Hand carts selling fruits are seen at Vaddem and vegetable was also sold at the St. Andrew’s church square. At times one can also observe that fruits are sold from the back of a vehicle, which is usually a tempo, which is parked by the roadside.
There are several satellite markets on the outskirts of the city. This affects the business of the vendors in the market who pay the taxes as people find it more convenient to buy the vegetables, fruits and fish with these vendors instead of going to the market. Incidentally this is a malady that afflicts not just the city of Vasco but all other cities in the state. All these are illegal activities and need to be curbed by the authorities.
