Fish vendors upset with ‘illegal’ fees at wholesale market by Margao municipality

Team Herald

MARGAO: Local vendors from different parts of the state who come to buy fish at the wholesale fish market are upset because of the collection of the illegal fee by the Margao Municipality and have urged the authorities to stop the harassment. 

Claiming that the Margao Municipal Council (MMC) is collecting fees for no reason at the wholesale fish market, the fish vendors who are engaged in selling fish in the villages by cycles and two-wheelers are very much upset. The Wholesale Fish Traders Association (WFTA) too also alleged that the civic body is looting the fish vendors, but has failed to take action against the illegalities at the market. 

On Wednesday Herald witnessed several staff of MMC collecting fees from the local fish vendors after they had purchased fish at wholesale rate. However, no staff of the civic body was seen cracking down against the illegal activities over here. 

Speaking to media persons, Francisco Fernandes, a local fish vendor from Chinchinim said that the MMC staff stopped him when he was on the way back to sell the fish in his village and charged Rs. 50. 

“We don’t know what they are charging us for. We are not doing any business over here. We come here just to buy the fish at wholesale rate, which is later sold in the villages by cycle or two-wheelers,” he stated. 

Another fish vendor also claimed that MMC is collecting fees from them for no reason. 

Reacting to the issue, MMC Chairperson Lyndon Pereira defended the collection of the fee and stated that all are liable to pay the fees once they come to the wholesale fish market. 

“Yes, the civic body is collecting fees from those fish vendors and it has been going on for the last several years. We are not bothered to collect the fee inside the wholesale fish market, but outside the market is the jurisdiction MMC,” he stated.