MARGAO: In view of the ongoing construction of the wholesale fish market, South Goa Planning and Development Authority (SGPDA) chairman and Vasco MLA Krishna alias Daji Salkar hinted that the market will be temporarily shifted to Verna IDC.
Angry wholesale fish traders said that it will not be flexible for them to have a wholesale fish market at Verna. However, Salkar opined that the remaining work of the market complex will be completed within six months once shifted.
Salkar informed that two phases of the wholesale fish market which is under construction have been already completed.
“The pending works cannot be completed if the fish sale activity is not shifted to an alternative place. We had a word with the IDC Chairman for a shed at Verna,” he added.
Meanwhile, Zahid Shaikh, a wholesale fish trader, expressed his disappointment over the SGPDA decision to temporarily shift the market to Verna.
“The ongoing construction work is proceeding at a slow pace and the SGPDA has failed to complete the works on time. We will face hardship if the market is suddenly shifted to Verna and there is a need to find an area close to the existing market,” he said.
He claimed that fish prices will increase if the market is shifted to Verna as many traders will be forced to spend more on labour and on transport charges.
“Actually, the SGPDA has totally failed to understand the requirements of the market and the fish traders. The construction work of the market has been delayed for the last several months,” said Shaikh.
Meanwhile, it has been noticed that several other business activities are being conducted at the wholesale fish market, other than the sale of fish and there is no action from the authorities concerned.
Several traders are seen selling plastic, footwear, fruits, vegetables and other goods by the roadside of the market.
