MARGAO: Town and Country Planning Minister Vijai Sardessai on Saturday said that he was with the activists to shift the wholesale fish market out of Fatorda. However, he challenged the other seven Salcete MLAs to relocate it in their constituency. “I will wait for such an offer till Monday,” he said.
However, he insisted that the market be managed by the Food and Drugs Administration.
“The wholesale fish market is an eyesore and nuisance in Fatorda constituency and in fact responsible for depleting my votes in Maddel area,” he said pointing out that the market was shifted to that place overnight by Digambar Kamat.
Observing that the South Goa Planning and Development Authority does not have the wherewithal to manage a fish market, he said, “It is best to let the FDA look after it is as that is the agency equipped to carry out the tests to ensure that people get good food products.”
“Since there are attempts to link me with the wholesale fish markets with some even stating that I am paid by the agents, I am now stating that let us shift the market from Fatorda which is my constituency and let any other MLA take it in his or her constituency even if it means shifting it to Valpoi,” he said.
Admitting that retail fish vendors would suffer if the wholesale market is shifted, he said that somebody has to pay the price in any change. However, he insisted that he wanted it to be shifted just to silence all attempts to link him with the wholesale fish market.
“My only intention was to provide employment opportunities to our local people by improving the wholesale fish market. However, as the activists want to take it away from Fatorda I am with them,” he said.
Meanwhile, Goa State Infrastructure Development Corporation will commence the first phase of improvement of the wholesale fish market from Sunday and complete the work by August 3 when the ban on fishing in Goa seas is lifted.
The first phase that is estimated at Rs 85 lakh involves levelling the 10,000 sq mts of land that houses the wholesale fish market and also enclosing the entire property with a compound wall.
