TEAM HERALD
teamherald@herald-goa.com
MARGAO: The South Goa Planning and Development Authority has finally decided to seek financial assistance from the National Fisheries Development Board to spruce up the messy wholesale and retail fish markets.
At a meeting of the SGPDA chaired by Chairman Rajan Naik, the authority gave its green signal to a proposal to avail funds from the NFDB to take up major works in the two markets ~ hit by unhygienic conditions.
After the meeting, PDA member Vijai Sardessai said an agency empanelled with the NFDB today gave a detailed proposal by way of power point presentation to the members how to tide over the problems plaguing the two PDA markets. “The SGPDA has given its go ahead signal to avail funds from the NFDA,” he added.
SGPDA Chairman Rajan Naik said the SGPDA has decided to rope in the National Fisheries Development Board for the up-gradation of the SGPDA wholesale and retail fish market. “The two markets are lying in a mess. Under the NFDB scheme, 90 per cent of the project is financed by the Board. At today’s meeting, we have decided to upgrade the two markets under the scheme,” he added.
SGPDA member secretary Vinod Kumar said the Authority has taken a policy decision to upgrade the wholesale and retail fish markets with NFDB funds. “As per the presentation made by the consultant, we are entitled to avail funds to the tune of Rs 2.5 crore for the market up-gradation. But we can seek additional funds under the unique project scheme of the Board,” Kumar said.
Replying to a question, he said that Rs 2.5 crore will not be adequate to meet the requirements in the wholesale fish market, with plans afoot to install effluent treatment plants to take care of waste water.
Replying to another question, he said the meeting also resolved to float
the tender for sopo collection, adding that the incumbent sopo contractor
will continue the ongoing work till the new contractor is finalised.
