PANJIM: The Panjim Municipal Market, the only place for groceries and vegetables, is in dire need of maintenance. The market is grappling with issues like improper hygiene, lack of CCTV cameras, no proper firefighting equipment, dirty toilets, pan stained walls, no ramps for persons with disability, dark and wet parking places, among others.
Occupants of the market say that authorities have been informed about the issue on several occasions but nothing has happened yet.
“Everybody knows what is happening but nobody does anything. We have brought it to the notice of the authorities about our problems but no one seems to be interested in addressing those issues,” a market vendor said.
Another vendor pointed out towards walls painted with pan masala.
“We do not know who the culprits are. There are no CCTV cameras here. Goa is a tourist destination but if this is the shabby state of our market. Who will come to purchase items here then?” he asked.
However, the Corporation of the City of Panaji (CCP) official said a proposal sent to the Goa State Urban Development Agency (GSUDA) was rejected due to lack of funds which delayed renovation work.
“We made an estimate and forwarded it to GSUDA for the entire roofing of the market. But the proposal was rejected as they did not have funds. Now it is to be decided who to entrust the work. We may approach DMA also. Meanwhile, CCP has decided to appoint a consultant to replace entire electrical wiring in the market. The wiring in the entire market is in shabby condition,” he said.
“In the meeting with the market committee we have proposed that the entire wiring of the market will be changed. We have to take advice from the Goa State Fire Service. The consultant will advise us how to go ahead. Total budget for electrical wiring work will be decided by the consultant,” the official added.
He said earlier hired some ex-servicemen for penalising those who would spit on the walls but it was stopped as their contract period expired.
The official said for the time being two persons have been appointed to paint the walls which get discoloured due to spitting. However, he accepted that it is not a permanent solution to the problem.
He said the market committee has proposed to install CCTV cameras in the market but a decision with this regard has not been taken yet.
The official argued that the market is cleaned everyday in the afternoon.
“The problem is that every morning truck loads of vegetables arrive in the market. It brings mud and water along with it. Now we have decided that a designated place will be provided to wholesale vegetable sellers. The vegetables can be segregated there and then distributed to other shops,” he said.
