Team Herald
MARGAO: South Goa Planning and Development Authority (SGPDA) is in a catch-22 situation as it has to take the tough decision of handing over the wholesale fish market area to Goa State Infrastructure Development Corporation (GSIDC) for the completion of the fish market project.
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However, the fishing community has opined against any such move as it will result in more hardships for hundreds of fishermen.
The SGPDA board will be deliberating on the issue in the meeting scheduled next week at Margao.
SGPDA Chairman and Vasco MLA, Krishna ‘Daji’ Salkar informed Herald that the issue will be discussed, wherein all the possible options will be taken into consideration pertaining to the issue.
Recently, GSIDC in the letter requested the SGPDA to hand over the possession of the entire area of the wholesale fish market for speedy completion of the ongoing fish market project at Madel, Margao. And hence, the fishing activity needs to be temporarily shifted to a different location, if decided to hand over the site.
Salkar said “Yes, we have received a letter from GSIDC, but SGPDA is yet to take a call on the request. A proper decision will be taken once the issue is discussed in the board meeting, which has been called next week.”
He also agreed that they have to shift all the fishing activities from the current location to some other area, but it is difficult to find proper land in Margao or Fatorda or close by.
Antonio Fernandes, President of South Goa Fishermen Federation of Wholesale Fish Market said that traditional fishermen will be in deep trouble besides others if the wholesale fish market is shifted to some other location.
“Actually, it has been told to us that GSIDC will complete the first phase of the ongoing fish market project and it will be handed over to the fishing activities. The work of the second phase will commence only after completion of the first one,” he stated.
Fernandes further said that they have been assured by the concerned authorities that fishing activities at the existing market will not be disturbed due to the construction of the fish market project. He also informed that they are opposed to the temporary shifting of the market, in wake of ongoing construction work at the site.
