TEAM HERALD
MARGAO: Weekend fish shoppers had to literally walk through muck and stench as overnight drizzle left Goa’s only wholesale fish market at Margao in its worst condition ever.
While traffic cops challaned motorists for unauthorised and haphazard parking on the main road, the situation turned from bad to worse inside the market, with the slippery condition making matters worse for the fish vendors, merchants and customers alike. The slippery ground at the entrance and exit of the market made many to tread cautiously, while others complained of a fall.
A regular customer Luiza Fernandes demanded to know why the authorities have turned a blind eye to the pitiable condition of the wholesale fish market. “So many people have fallen down due to the slippery market conditions. Why can’t the government put tar or concrete inside the market so that people can be a ease”, she questioned.
Luiza was not the only customer to complain against the government authorities over the state of market affairs. Many other customers or the fish vendors or the wholesale fish merchants complained bitterly over the market condition. They said the situation should hopefully open the eyes of the government authorities before things slip down further after the onset of monsoon.
Incidentally, Chief Minister’s Manohar Parrikar had promised to put the wholesale fish market in order after he assumed office two years ago. But, the promised budgetary allocation of Rs three core to tone up the market infrastructure has not reached the South Goa Planning and Development looking after the market’s upkeep and maintenance.
Sadly, a complaint lodged with the district Magistrate, South to crack a whip against the SGPDA and other authorities for their utter negligence to provide basic services in the wholesale fish market has fallen on deaf ears.
