PONDA: The ceiling of the Ponda fish market has been in a decrepit condition for years as the cement plaster has gradually fallen off, exposing the iron rods within. But the Ponda Municipal Council, instead of initiating immediate repairs to ensure the safety of the structure and the vendors within, has resorted to only covering the affected areas with plastic sheets.
The problem is expected to worsen once the monsoon arrives next month as leakages from the roof have become more the norm than the exception. Vendors who conduct business on the top floor of the complex said that while they fear the risk to their lives, they have no option but to continue trade in the rickety complex. Stoppage of business, they said, would pose a great loss to their livelihood.
The roof of the fish market at Ponda partly comprises a concrete slab and cement sheets. Both are in a sorry state.
“As a stopgap measure, I myself have tied plastic sheets under the roof of the area where I conduct business,” a vendor called Matkar said while pointing to the broken concrete beam right above her head. “It is clear that the authorities do not care about the safety of the vendors or the shoppers here,” she added.
The vendors have demanded that the chief officer inspect the premises and get it repaired before the monsoon kicks in. They also said that while there has been talk that the market will be reconstructed, nothing has taken off on the ground yet.
Meanwhile, the PondaVyapariSangatana, in a memorandum to the PMC, has demanded the installation of CCTV cameras and security personnel at Ponda’s Upper Bazaar. It has stated that these are necessary to check complaints of nuisance and minor thefts of their ware during nightfall.
