Asserting that the wholesale fish market was basically established for the local fishermen to sell their fish catch, Goan fishermen, including boat owners and traditional fishermen, including ramponkars have opposed any attempt to restrict timings at the wholesale fish market.
The local fishermen in one voice demanded to hand over the wholesale market to them for its upkeep and maintenance, as they slammed the South Goa Planning and Development Authority (SGPDA) for the utter neglect and decay of the wholesale fish market. Trading charges of extortion in the market, the fishermen demanded immediate termination of the contractor collecting the sopo fees and looking after the market upkeep and maintenance saying the agency has failed in the maintenance work.
The local fishermen made their voice loud and clear at a meeting convened by Margao Municipal Chief Officer Gaurish Sankhwalkar with the representatives of the stakeholders, including Sub-Divisional Magistrate, Uday Prabhudesai, and officials of the Goa State Pollution Control Board, and the SGPDA, Traffic Police to review the situation at the wholesale fish market after the High Court hearing on November 7. The SGPDA was represented by an official on behalf of Member Secretary Sheikh Ali.
President of Vasco Boat Owners Jose Philip set the ball rolling when he demanded to know why the fishermen are being blamed for the hygiene and waste disposal in the wholesale fish market. “When the boat owners and fishermen are paying huge sopo fees to the SGPDA, why the fishermen should be blamed for the nuisance,” he said, adding that it is the responsibility and duty of the PDA to look after the market upkeep and maintenance. “We are being charged sopo fees to sell our fish in the wholesale fish market. We get no facilities in return. The SGPDA is a big failure,” he said, demanding that the government hand over the wholesale fish market for its upkeep and maintenance.
President of the Cutbona Boat Owners Association Vinay Tari echoed similar sentiments. Saying the local fishermen are the fishing stakeholders, Tari said the wholesale fish market should be handed over to the fishing association for its upkeep and maintenance. “When the fishermen, including boat owners are paying the sopo fees, why they should be blamed for the market maintenance,” Tari questioned. President of the Wholesale Fish Market Association M Ibrahim repeated his charge that around 500 migrants are being transported in the wholesale fish market to sell retail fish. “Each of these migrants pay Rs 500 to the people collecting the money. This is illegal. I have never called for removing the Goan fishermen from the wholesale fish market. My demand has been to stop the migrants from the market,” he added.
Ibrahim demanded to know why the traders should employ two workers to clean the market when the PDA through its contractor is collecting lakhs of rupees by way of sopo fees. “If the PDA cannot maintain the market, the wholesale fish association is ready to assume the responsibility,” he said. “We traders do not bring the thermocol in the market. May be the contractor is allowing the entry of thermocol because of vested interests,” he added. Goyche Ramponkarancho Ekvott leaders Olencio Simoes and Agnelo Rodrigues said the PDA should immediately terminate the services of the contractor for failing to maintain hygiene in the market. Former Cutbona Boat Owners Union President Savio D’Silva blamed the SGPDA for the state of affairs in the market, prompting the High Court to take cognisance of the stink and unhygienic conditions. MMC Chairperson Damu Shirodkar sought cooperation of the boat owners to ensure hygiene and cleanliness in the market.
Authorities urged to unravel alleged extortion racket
The fishermen urged the SGPDA and the Margao Municipal Council to unravel the mystery surrounding the alleged extortion racket in the wholesale fish market. After representatives of fishing associations claimed extortion of fees in the market, former Cutbona Boat Owners Union Savio D’Silva demanded that the SGPDA and the MMC should resolve the mystery and come clean in the matter. “When all the fishing associations have alleged an extortion racket in the wholesale fish market, it is the duty of the SGPDA to unravel the mystery by ordering a probe,” he said. Savio has warned that either the SGPDA register a FIR against the mystery man for extorting money from the fishermen, or the fishing associations will lodge a complaint with the police on the issue.