VASCO: The joint meeting between the Mormugao Municipal Council (MMC) officials and the fish vendors from Vasco fish market remained inconclusive.
At the meeting the fish vendors stuck to their demand that MMC should totally stop wholesalers from selling fish outside the market and only then they would think of shifting to the new temporary shed.
During the meeting MMC chief officer Jayant Tari informed the fish vendors that the wholesalers have been stopped from selling fish with a warning.
Tari said the wholesalers met him and claimed that the existing fish market shed has not been notified and this prevented the MMC from initiating action against them.
The CO’s reply left the fish vendors agitated, who decided not to vacate the fish market shed until MMC completely stops wholesalers from selling fish.
The civic body asked the fish vendors to decide by Tuesday on shifting to the temporary shed. The Chief Officer said he would prepare a report which will be sent to the Director of Municipal Administration, GSUDA and other concerned authorities.
Leader of the fishing community Olencio Simoes said MMC must give a written assurance to the fish vendors that after constructing the new fish market the existing vendors will be shifted back to the new complex.
Custodio D’Souza, a fisherman from Khariwado demanded that the MMC set an example by seizing and sealing the goods and outlets of the wholesalers which will boost the morale of the market fish vendors.
He said they are not satisfied with the meeting and won’t shift to temporary shed until the wholesalers are not stopped completely.
Fr Michael Fernandes, legal advisor of the Vasco fish market vendors said the fish vendors will shift to temporary shed only when their demands are met. One such demand is to totally stop wholesalers from selling fish outside the fish market. He applauded MMC’s efforts in barring wholesalers from selling fish outside the fish market.
Meanwhile, MMC chairperson Damodar Kaskar assured to resolve this issue by holding talks with the market fish vendors.
He said although the meeting remained inconclusive, the fish vendors have given time to inform the MMC about their decision by Tuesday. Kaskar said as per their demand, MMC stopped wholesalers from selling fish.
