Team Herald
Fish Market vendors are agitated over successive non-beneficial inspections of the SGPDA fish market and have now demanded that the Authority put their own house in order before they point fingers at retailers. The fisherwomen on Monday lashed out at the SGPDA and the District Administration for failing to stop the illegal sale of fish at the wholesale market and also for failing to provide them with clean drinking water for years. One of the fisherwomen went berserk and filled a container with gutter water and threatened to throw it at the team of journalists and inspecting authorities. Fishermen have been demanding basic amenities since the inception of the market.
“So many inspections have happened. Nothing has changed. Neither do we get drinking water nor has the illegal sale of fish stopped at the wholesale fish market. When they give their word that the illegal fish sale has stopped, we will sit at our places and clear the passage,” said agitated fisherwomen.
It may be recalled that the district magistrate had on May 24 last year, issued a conditional order passed under Section 133 of the Cr PC directing the MMC and SGPDA to take steps to ensure cleanliness and hygiene in both markets.
SGPDA, in its affidavit filed with the district magistrate last year had submitted that they were maintaining the cleanliness of the retail market while stating that they would take corrective measures as far as the wholesale market is concerned.
However, petitioner Savio Dias stated that he was not happy with the pathetic condition of the wholesale and retail markets in the Old Market area.
It is to be noted that in February 2012, the High Court of Bombay had disposed of the petition filed by Dias against the SGPDA following its affidavit listing the measures taken to ensure cleanliness and maintenance of the two market complexes in Margao.
The retailers at the SGPDA market lack the basic means to keep the market clean, the security of the complex and face several other issues. Felix Gonsalves, president of the Margao Fish Vendors Association said, “Vendors lack the most basic facility of clean drinking water and the oldest demand of stopping illegal fish sales in the wholesale market. I dare the authorities to fulfil these needs and then we will all fall in line.”
The wholesale fish market needs proper tarring of the area and lighting. The fishermen in the SGPDA market have been sitting on the passage of the market and blocking the path of people coming to purchase fish. One of the residents also filed a case against the nuisance that is now being heard in the Deputy Collectors Court.
The new South Goa Planning and Development Authority Chairman, Mauvin Godinho visited and inspected the wholesale and retail fish market of Margao on Monday morning. He interacted with the fishermen and directed the Member Secretary to install water filters for drinking water and clean the storm water drainage’s within two days. Godinho has also promised enhanced facilities in the future if they cooperate with the SGPDA. Tension rose when angry fishermen questioned the inspection team on the promises they made in the past.
“We will float a tender for the guard wall and tarring of the market and we’ve also advised the collector to work out the same in two weeks’ time,” the chairman added.
Godinho had an argument with fisherwomen of the SGPDA Market over the issue of blocking the passage and also over the failure of SGPDA to provide drinking water and to curb retail fish sale at the wholesale market. He has also assured action and restrained from revealing his plans.
