TEAM HERALD
VASCO: Tension broke out when a large group of vendors from the Vasco fish market on Wednesday stopped the soil testing work for the new fish market and later disrupted a meeting of the Mormugao Municipal Council.
After returning from home from their morning sale, the fish vendors were informed that some workers with machinery were trying to demolish the fish market. As rumours spread, the fish vendors rushed to the market and confronted the contractor.
Caught off guard, the contractor informed them that he had been sent by the MMC to carry out soil testing work.
The fish vendors were is no mood to listen to the contractor and deflated the front tyre of the truck carrying the soil testing machinery.
Speaking to Herald, the fish vendors questioned the MMC’s decision to conduct the soil testing, barely two days after they had objected to the construction of the new fish market.
Later, the agitated fish vendors marched to the MMC hall and took the councillors and the Vasco MLA Carlos Almeida, who was attending a meeting, by surprise and they disrupted the council meeting in progress.
The fish vendors then confronted Almeida over his decision to conduct the soil testing work without taking them into confidence.
Councillor Pascoal D’Souza urged the fish vendors not to accept the construction of the new fish market and stated that the fish vendors were happy with the present complex.
As the tension escalated, the MMC then summoned a police force to the council hall and the fish vendors were moved out of the meeting hall.
Later speaking to reporters, Almeida alleged that the fish vendors were being instigated by Councillor Pascoal D’Souza.
“I will go ahead with the fish market project only after taking all fish vendors into confidence. It is now left up to the citizens of Vasco to decide whether they want a new fish market or if they are comfortable with the old fish market,” said Almeida.
