MARGAO/CUNCOLIM:
The fishing community in South Goa is demanding transparency and active involvement in the construction of the wholesale fish market to ensure that it caters to the needs of local fishermen.
“We, as fishermen and boat owners, have requested to be provided with a copy of the plan for the ongoing construction of the wholesale fish market. Unfortunately, the authorities have not yet provided us with the requested information.
As stakeholders, it is essential for us to know what facilities will be available for fishermen in the proposed market,” stated Vinay Tari, Chairman of the Cutbona-based Fisheries Cooperative Society.
Tari, also a member of the Federation of Goan-based fishermen groups, further added,
“The Fisheries Minister had assured us that we would receive a copy of the plan, but to this day, we have not received it.”
It should be noted that fishermen from Cutbona, Betul, and the coastal areas of Salcete and Mormugao taluka have repeatedly appealed to Krishna Salkar, Chairman of the South Goa Planning and Development Authority (SGPDA), to keep them informed about the progress of the new wholesale fish market.
This request stems from the problems they face at the current market, where they lack adequate access and space due to the tactics employed by wholesale fish traders who import fish from outside the State.
