Vasco fish, fruit vendors refuse to vacate footpath outside market

VASCO: Fisherwomen along with fruit and vegetable vendors were annoyed after the Mormugao municipality staff asked fruit, vegetable vendors near fish market to shift to the new temporary shed by vacating the footpath on Thursday. The vendors refused to leave their place and remained at their spots.

The shifting of fish, fruit and vegetable vendors from the old fish market shed to the newly erected temporary shed has become a herculean task for the Mormugao Municipal Council. The council has failed to stop illegal fish vendors from selling fish outside fish market and has also failed to take the local fisherwomen into confidence.

On Thursday, when the MMC inspectors came to evict the fruit and vegetable vendors from the fish market footpath, the fisherwomen came ahead along with the other vendors and refused to leave the fish market area. Despite of warning given by the MMC staff to seize the commodities if vendors do not co-operate, vendors did not pay heed to the warning and remained at their spots without moving an inch.

Later when contacted a fisherwoman from fish market, said “MMC has failed to fulfill its assurance to clear all illegal vendors selling fish outside the market. Until they do that we are not shifting in new shed”. She also claimed that the place where the new shed has been erected is unclean and serpents move in that area. There is even no continuous water supply there. “We are fine here at the existing fish market”, she claimed.

A fruit vendor Nirmal said that she has been selling fruits near fish market since the past 35 years and never before she was asked to move to other place. “Customers know us from many years and come at this place. If we go to new place then how we will get customers”, she added.

Meanwhile, Jayant Tari, Chief Officer of MMC stated that the MMC staff had gone to request them and to make them understand to shift to the new shed. “I feel the vendors must co-operate with the municipality as in long term the vendors will benefit to have a new market. Soon MMC will stop and act against illegal vendors selling fish outside the fish market”, he added.