The wholesale fish market at Fatorda is only in name as it has been converted into a retail market where not only fish but even other items are sold. In fact it appears that more people visit this market then the retail fish market vendors in the SGPDA market going by the number of vehicles parked there. The number of two-wheelers parked outside the market clearly indicate that people come to purchase fish for their households and hence purchase fish in retail. The two-wheelers are parked at quite a distance and narrows the road on both sides making a four-wheeler crawl in that area. Fish is brazenly sold in retail just at the entrance of the market with some migrants even sitting with the fish on the road side. The entire entrance to the wholesale market is occupied by vendors selling fish in retail. Some of them are migrants selling fish, however, there are quite a number of local ramponnkars too. While retail fish is available at the entrance to the market, at the other end there are vendors selling even dry fish. In fact TCP minister Vijai Sardesai, who inspected the wholesale fish market today, asked one lady why she was selling dry fish in the wholesale market when they are allotted place at the SGPDA market to sell dry fish. A person who goes to buy wholesale fish sometimes has this to say: The fish is sold in a very unhygienic way. Often the fish is thrown on the tarred road and then divisions are mad. The Styrofoam boxes are just strewn on the roadside. I feel that the sanitary inspector has to keep a check on this, says Fernandes a local from Fatorda. Some of the retail fish vendors from SGPDA market lamented that the authorities have not taken the retail sale of fish at the wholesale market seriously. One person comes in a Maruti Van laden with bakery products like bread, sliced bread, toasts and even cakes and there are people who purchase these products. Incidentally there are some vendors who sell fruits, vegetables and even condiments like red chillies at this site thus making it a complete market where people can get their all their requirements for the kitchen at one place. The SGPDA has separate markets for fish, condiments, vegetables and fruits and the purchaser has to go from one market to another, while at the so called wholesale market everything is available at one place. The trucks parked all over the place which makes it very difficult for us to use the market properly and also results in muck being created everywhere through their tyres, said one ramponnkar lady. One lady selling dry fish retorted: At least we are selling fish that is dried. What about those selling fruits and vegetables here? A member of the Fish Vendors Association pointing to the weighing scales on the platforms said they sell fish in kilos to the people and at times even sell one kg of fish which is nothing but retail sale. The platform, where the fish is sold in wholesale, is also a mess as fish is sold by weight and people can even buy small fish weighing as little as one kg. The refrigerated trucks that bring the fish to the market are found parked touching the platform so that it is easy to unload the fish on the platform. It is quite common to see three or more people combining to buy big fish like kingfish at the platform and then get it cut in the market and distribute amongst them. They not only save by dividing the cost of the fish amongst themselves but also share the fish cutting charges and get to take home the amount of fish they actually require. President of Fish Vendors Association Felix Gonsalves said: The trucks have to be stopped being parked at the platform and the fish cutters also have to be controlled otherwise the retail market at SGPDA may be forced to close down. Not that the surroundings are any better as they too look dirty. Styrofoam containers can be seen floating in the water in the fields adjacent to the market and nobody appears to be bothered about cleaning them. In fact, Vijai Sardesai would be doing the State a big favour if he cleans up the market as promised and stops the retail sale there and restricts it only to being a wholesale fish market.