MARGAO: Krishna ‘Daji’ Salkar, MLA, and Chairman of the South Goa Planning and Development Authority (SGPDA), has provided clarity on the estimated maintenance cost of Rs 3.88 crore for one year at the SGPDA wholesale fish market in Fatorda. He explained that the quoted bid amount pertains to the usage of the entire market area and not just a part of it.
While the first phase of construction for the wholesale fish market is scheduled to commence in December, questions have arisen about why SGPDA has quoted this amount for a space where construction has yet to begin. SGPDA has stated that the second phase of market construction will only be
initiated after completing the first phase, and they expect bidders to pay for the entire area.
Recently, SGPDA issued a tender for the collection of sopo (market fees) and maintenance of the wholesale fish market. The estimated cost, including 18 percent Goods and Services Tax (GST), is Rs 3.88 crore. The deadline for bid document submissions is September 18, with the opening of technical bids scheduled for September 22.
Currently, the sopo collection is managed at the departmental level and averages between Rs 12 to 14 lakh annually. However, the estimated amount for bidders is Rs 3.88 crore per year, which means the successful bidder will have to pay nearly Rs 33 lakh each month to SGPDA, as per the tender.
Addressing concerns over the seemingly high cost, Chairman Salkar explained that the amount was estimated by the Public Works Department, taking into account the use of the entire market space. He noted that while sopo collection is presently done for only a portion of the space due to ongoing market construction activities, the entire area will soon be put into use.
He also mentioned that the collection of sopo for fish-carrying vehicles parked outside the market premises is the responsibility of the Margao Municipal Council. “Once the first phase of construction is completed, maximum space will be utilised, and more vehicles will be accommodated within the premises,” he explained.
