MAPUSA: The police stopped the fish vendors from selling fish as consumers and vendors failed to follow the social distancing norms at the Siolim Tar Market, on Sunday.
The police action comes days after the Siolim locals stopped entry of outside vendors from operating in Siolim Tar Market.
It may be recalled that last week, the villagers with support of Siolim Marna panchayat had decided to stop vendors from outside Siolim from operating in Siolim Tar Market in view of COVID pandemic. While some vendors followed the instructions of the villagers, few still continued to operate.
On Sunday morning, over 25 fish vendors including locals and outsiders were found operating at the Tar Market. The number of people visiting the market to buy fish doubled. However, when people failed to maintain social distancing, the locals contacted the police, who further stopped the fish vendors from conducting their businesses.
Meanwhile, vendors blamed the panchayat for not taking precautionary measures in the market.
“The panchayat has not taken any precautionary measures for COVID-19 at the Siolim market. There are no markings for vendors and for customers to maintain social distancing due to which people are moving around to buy fish,” a fish vendor claimed.
Another local vendor said, “Because of some migrant vendors, we locals are facing problem. Now, along with them, police directed us also to stop the sale. The decision to stop outsiders in the market was taken for the benefit of the people, but nobody is following it”.
Meanwhile, the villagers have requested the panchayat to shift the fish vendors back to their existing spot in the market while adopting necessary precautionary measures and to stop the vendors from sitting on road to avoid crowding and traffic congestion.
