Team Herald
VASCO: Pictures of the leaking roof of the newly built fish market complex at Cortalim have gone viral on social media, raising questions over the quality of the construction.
However, terming the leaking as minor seepage and the issue as petty, Cortalim MLA Alina Saldanha claimed the deputy sarpanch, Raymond D’Sa, is blowing up the issue.
Countering the MLA, D’Sa said that Saldanha was sidelining him due to internal politics and downplaying his concerns over the Cortalim fish market complex. “The leaking roof of the fish market is a genuine issue and it is surprising that the building is leaking even before it is handed over to the panchayat for use,” he said.
However, Saldanha said that the new market complex has already been handed over to the Directorate of Panchayat and it would be operational once the government’s policy to manage such structure is prepared.
Commenting on the leaking roof, Saldanha opined, “This is the first monsoon shower for the infrastructure and we might come across some things which can be set right.”
“I think the rain water must have got collected in one spot which has led to the minor seepage. It can be fixed by GSIDC (Goa State Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited) after they inspect the structure thoroughly. The first move of the Deputy Sarpanch should have been to inform me or GSIDC,” Saldanha added.
Rejecting the allegation that he is blowing up the issue, D’Sa said that he raised the issue after some locals forwarded him the pictures of the newly built market complex roof leaking. “This is not a petty issue; some locals were concerned seeing the recent seepage in the complex building,” D’Sa said.
D’Sa also informed that locals and vendors from Cortalim were assured that soon the newly built market complex would be handed over to panchayat and would be made operational, which has not been done yet.
“The fish vendors and other vendors are doing their business in the Confraria premises which belong to the church. The panchayat is paying a monthly rent of Rs 20,000 for the premises. When we have new infrastructure which can be immediately put to use, then, why people should suffer?” he questioned and said, “The people are eager to take possession of the market complex and want the new market complex to get operational immediately.”
