PERNEM: To say that Pernem town’s lone fish market structure is dilapidated would be an understatement. The small, rickety roofed area, which houses vendors not only from the town and surrounding villagers but also from neighbouring Maharashtra, is bursting at its seams as there is not enough space to accommodate everyone. As a result, just about 8-10 vendors can avail of a seating space while at least 30 others must make do with using the floor.
If that’s not enough, vegetable grocers too hunt for spaces of their own and are forced to use whichever nook they get.
Forty monsoons have passed since the fish market was constructed, and with each rain the structure has only gotten weaker – broken roof tiles and gaping holes in the floor included. Floods during heavy showers are also a common sight as the market’s plinth is level with the street flanking it, prompting harrowed vendors to scoop out at least 15-20 buckets of rainwater at a time.
“During extremely heavy rainfall, when water from the street flows directly into the market, we resign ourselves to the fact that we have to conduct business in the water itself,” a fish vendor said. “The conditions are such that shoppers have even slipped and fallen. Many choose not to patronise us because of this and many other reasons.”
Tired of having to endure the same hardships each year and being in no mood to risk their health due to water-borne and vector-borne diseases that are so common during the rains, the fish vendors have demanded that the market structure be repaired well before the upcoming monsoon arrives.
They have also demanded a cold storage facility for leftover fish stocks, an area to store their containers, and an effective waste disposal system. The absence of all of these to date has resulted in seriously unhygienic conditions in the market as most vendors resort to dumping their malodorous fish waste in the vicinity of the market itself.
“The Pernem municipality has never ensured cleanliness of the market. Due to the dirty and messy conditions there, harmful insects have begun spawning in the little pools of filthy waste water and in congested corners, posing a serious health hazard,” a source said.
Vendors also want adequate barricades for the structure to prevent stray dogs and cattle from entering it and further sullying it with excreta.
“When the sopo collector visits to take tax from us, we show him around and complain about the poor conditions we do business in. He always assures us that he will look into the matter, but has not taken up our cause yet,” a group of vendors said.
They are, however, hopeful that things will look up for them before the first rain of 2023 comes pouring down..
