MARGAO: Despite local Goan vendors raising their voices against dozens of migrant fish vendors involved in retail sale of fish inside the wholesale fish market, the flourishing activity has now been extended to the area opposite the Kadamba bus stand, near Rebello hospital in Madel-Fatorda with locals vehemently opposing the same.
“Migrant vendors have been having a field day selling fish with weighing scales and the Margao Municipal Council preferring to see no evil,” said a resident and criticized the civic body for its failure to clean up the mess left behind by the vendors in the vicinity of Rebello hospital.
“A group of migrant fish vendors have been actively engaged in selling fish in the area for several days now. The lack of action taken against them has further emboldened the vendors who now do brisk business here freely without restraint,” stated locals.
On Friday, when locals questioned the migrant fish vendors, the quickly fled the site but to the utter dismay of residents, they returned a few hours later and resumed selling fish in the area.
Remedious Fernandes, a resident of Madel the vendors brazenly conduct business here as the Municipality has not initiated any action against them.
“These migrant vendors sell fish by the roadside illegally as the authorities refuse to act against them. They not only create obstruction to traffic but also cause a mess around here,” said Remedious.
Milagres Fernandes, another citizen, demanded that the civic body take immediate action against such illegal activities.
Expressing frustration with the ongoing situation, he called upon local authorities to enforce regulations and ensure that public spaces are not exploited for unauthorized commercial activities like roadside fish selling.
“This issue will extend to other areas if not stopped immediately. Goan fish vendors at the retail market are already complaining about the loss in business due to fish being sold at retail prices in wholesale fish markets, and now also in Madel,” he stated firmly.
He also brought attention to the issue of unattended garbage accumulating on the roadside near Rebello hospital. “It seems that the civic body is least bothered to clean the area; however, this neglect will surely lead to health hazards, especially since it is a residential area,” he stated emphatically.
