MARGAO: Margao Road Transport Office Enforcement Division on Monday raided several fish vendors at the wholesale fish market who were doing business on private vehicles.
The Road Transport Office also issued challans to fish vendors at wholesale fish market Madel, Fatorda and Davorlim. They have been booked for violating Motor Vehicle Act regulations and for using two-wheelers to sell fish.
In April, former Raia Sarpanch Xavier Fernandes had brought to the notice of the Director of Transport how traders, who were not traditional fishermen, fitted huge boxes to their scooters and motorcycles and sold fish to households in villages.
Furnishing photographs, he said such vehicles could be seen every morning around 6:60 to 8:00 at the wholesale fish market, Margao.
He alleged that currently there were at least 200 vehicles at the market, indulging in this illegal practice.
The action was initiated after the Director of Transport Nikhil Desai has issued a memorandum to the Assistant Director of Transport at Margao to take immediate action against this illegal trade and file a compliance report within 15 days.
The activists now allege that these bike-borne vendors, who are mostly non-Goans, have been selling fish in total violations of norms.
At least 20 challans were issued on Monday at the fish market itself. RTO Inspector Edwin DSouza informed that the drive would continue.
