CM bans retailing of fish at SGPDA wholesale market

MARGAO: Chief Minister Dr Pramod Sawant on Thursday ordered the authorities not to allow any retailing of fish at the SGPDA wholesale fish market in Margao.

The chief minister issued the order after inspecting the situation at the SGPDA wholesale and retail fish markets. On the occasion, he assured to take steps to set up fish testing lab at the wholesale fish market.

On the occasion, the traditional vendors requested the chief minister to keep the market clean. A traditional fisherman said that the interests of the traditional fishermen need to be protected at the wholesale fish market. 

Meanwhile, the retailers from SGPDA retail market complained to the chief minister that they are suffering loss of business due to retailing of fish at the wholesale market. 

Following this, the chief minister has ordered the SGPDA, MMC and police to jointly stop the retail sale of fish at the wholesale fish market and take action against the violators. 

“No retail of fish or groceries has to be allowed at the wholesale market. Traditional fishermen come and sell at wholesale market in retail method. I request all the Goans who sell fish there on retail to come here at the retail market and sell here,” he said.

The chief minister also said that the sale of quality fish to people is of paramount importance and that the cold storage and also the lab will be planned for the wholesale fish market after due discussions with the authorities. 

SGPDA Chairman Wilfred D’sa said that there is improvement required. “Cold storage is required. This has to be the best market. Priority to this market is necessary,” he said. 

Meanwhile, Fatorda MLA Vijai Sardesai in a tweet said, “Hoping that visit of Goa CM to SGPDA wholesale fish market will pave way to start the project I had got GSIDC to conceptualise when I was in Cabinet. Unfortunately, the Rs 12.5 crore financial approval that I had got will be of no use as with revised GSR applicable now it will cost Rs 17 crore plus.”

The Benaulim MLA Churchill Alemao, who himself is a fisherman, sarcastically said, “Babu Kavlekar, Vijai Sardesai, Digambar Kamat have lot of fishing trawlers and businesses,” after realising that one such inspection happened in the fish markets. 

“How much do Digambar and Babu know about fishing business? Churchill asked.