SGPDA retains retail fish market as EIA & Fish testing lab site

MARGAO: The first meeting of the newly-inducted South Goa Planning and Development Authority was held on Wednesday. Some of the major decisions were over the land requirements for the Exports Inspection Agency (EIA) office and fish testing lab and also regarding charges for letting their land for exhibitions. 

The meeting was attended by most of the members. Speaking to media persons after the meeting, 

Chairman Wilfred D’Sa said the authority has decided to return to the original plan of having the EIA office for fish exports and fish testing lab at the SGPDA retail market, instead of the recently proposed plan of having it at the wholesale fish market. 

 “The wholesale fish market is overcrowded with existing things, it’s dirty and it’s not feasible to have it there, Wilfred explained. 

He added that GSIDC will give a presentation over the work of revamping the SGPDA retail fish market soon. 

Earlier, at the meeting, there were discussions on why bookings for using the SGPDA grounds had been cancelled.  It was brought to light that the increasing of rates for holding an exhibition, from Rs 40 per sq mts for 1,500 sq mts allotted to Rs 60 per sq mts for 2,000 sq mts allotted; had led to the recent cancellations.  “We have reduced the land to 1,500 sq mts allotment but the rates per sq.mts remain at Rs 60 per sq mts,” Wilfred added. 

Further, when member secretary, Ashok Kumar was asked about the revenue generated from the exhibitions, he said it is Rs 5 lakh per exhibition, which is Rs 35 lakhs.  Questions were then raised at the meeting as to why the land has not been kept in good conditions, despite earning the aforementioned revenue figures, the member secretary Kumar and member Rupesh Mahatme replied, stating that ‘a proposal for developing areas of the ground into a parking area under the MPLAD scheme have been passed and approved but that the tenders are yet to be floated’. 

The sorry plight of the road in front of the SGPDA building also came up for discussion. On this, Mahatme stated that since SGPDA doesn’t have money for the required works, PWD has done the estimates and that the work might be completed soon. 

On another issue, Wilfred added that the FDA has written to the SGPDA for the allotment of space for the construction of a cold storage facility. “There is no mention of the size of land they require, hence SGPDA will call the FDA to take a look at the land and decide,” Wilfred added.