They should have been happy after being allotted stalls in the new fish market complex in Mapusa, but meat traders are far from satisfied ever since they have occupied the new premises two weeks ago.
The meat traders have complained that the poor location and inadequate facilities have severely affected their business at the new fish market complex.
Incidentally, getting the meat traders to occupy their allotted stalls in the new fish market complex had been a major hurdle for the Mapusa Municipal Council (MMC).
Following the inauguration of the new fish market complex on January 26, the MMC had directed the meat vendors to surrender their old stalls and take possession of stalls in the new fish market premises.
Mindful that traders almost never hand over their old shops to MMC even after shifting to new premises, the MMC had directed the meat traders to lock their old stalls and hand over the keys to MMC, before taking the possession of their new stalls.
However under one pretext or the other, the meat traders refused to shift to the new premises and the MMC then issued them with a final notice on September 23, directing them to shift to new premises within seven days, failing which strict action would be taken against them.
When the meat traders did not respond to the final notice, MMC Chief Officer Raju Gawas along with an electricity department official disconnected power supply to their old shops.
Hit by MMC’s decisive blow, 20 chicken and 5 mutton vendors had no option but to shift to their new stalls allotted to them on the first floor of the new fish market.
“Ever since we have shifted to the new stalls on the first floor of the new fish market complex, our business has suffered badly due to various factors,” complained Mukhtar, a meat trader.
“Very few customers are willing to climb the stairs and visit our shops on the first floor. Besides, the stalls are small and we find it difficult to store our meat in the stores. There is no lift facility and taking our heavy meat products to the first floor is a tiresome exercise. There is also no adequate water supply in the stalls,” Mukhtar said.
When contacted, MMC Chairperson Sandeep Falari said the MMC proposes to provide a lift facility in the new fish market complex.
“But the lift facility will be provided when the second floor of the fish market is taken up for construction by the State Urban Development Authority,” said Falari.
Responding to other complaints by the meat traders, Falari replied: “The MMC has, so far, not received any complaint from the meat shopkeepers about the water shortage. There is an overhead water tank and the water is supplied through it to the meat vendors,” said Falari.
