MARGAO: Closure of the South Goa Planning and Development (SGPDA) wholesale fish market in Margao in view of corona curfew has resulted in mini-wholesale fish markets around the neighbouring areas of the commercial town. Wholesale fish selling activities in the early morning hours are being reported from Housing Board-Davorlim, Arlem Junction, and Seraulim, besides under-constructed Western bypass road, creating nuisance in the localities.
All the wholesalers have shifted their base from Madel to the above-mentioned places with citizens of the concerned areas being upset due to these fish selling activities.
If you enjoyed reading this article, you can help support our journalism by adding OHeraldo as a preferred source.
It has also informed that one person is involved in handling such illegal fish selling activity in Housing Board, Davorlim. Ibrahim Moulana, President of Wholesale Fish Vendors Association has demanded arrest of the person immediately.
It has been witnessed that since the last many days several vehicles with the registration numbers of Maharashtra and Karnataka are seen parked at the roadside of Housing Board, Arlem Junction (Raia Panchayat area), and under constructed western bypass road doing business.
It may be recalled that SGPDA has locked the gates of the wholesale fish market at Madel since the curfew. Since then the wholesalers have shifted their base to other neighbouring areas.
Anthony Dias, a resident of Raia, said, “We have noticed wholesale fish selling activities on the border of Raia Panchayat at Arlem Junction for the last many days. This activity goes uninterrupted in the early morning hours, creating nuisance all over.”
He urged the panchayat to act against this activity or write to the authorities for action.
Minguelina D’Souza, Raia Sarpanch said, “The panchayat is unaware of such activity in Raia area.” She, assured to take immediate steps to tackle the menace.
“The panchayat will write to the police to take immediate action against illegal wholesale fish activities very soon. We will not tolerate such type of illegalities in Raia. Will also ask authorities to take action against the person involved in taking Sopo from those wholesale fish sellers”, she stated.
There are reports that such types of wholesale fish selling activities are also witnessed in housing board, Davorlim for the last many days. The video of such activity has also gone viral on social media, wherein citizens are expressing anger and urging the concerned authorities to act.
It is learnt that at all the places neither social distancing is maintained, nor wearing of masks observed in violation of all protocols of Covid-19.
Meanwhile, in the early morning hours of Wednesday a team of Fatorda police rushed at Arlem Junction and action was taken against the wholesale fish sellers with many of leaving behind their fish.
Ibrahim Moulana, President of Wholesale Fish Vendors Association, admitted that wholesale fish selling activities are in full swing at Housing Board, Davorlim, besides other places.
“As a President of wholesale fish vendors association, I had already appealed not to get involved in illegal fish selling at any places. Especially not to violate the protocols of Covid, in case selling the fish at the point of time”, he stated.
Moulana informed that one person from Housing Board has demarcated an area and “takes Rs 2000 from each vehicle and allows others to do illegal wholesale fish selling business.”
