The dilapidated fish market at Baina-Vasco.
Photo Credits: The Goan
VASCO
At a time when the Vasco fish market project has taken centre stage as the most prestigious project in the port town, another fish market in a different part of the municipality has been virtually forgotten and ignored.
Despite several assurances and umpteen inspections, the Baina fish market still remains a distant dream for fish vendors and residents alike. The Baina fish market has now become a dilapidated structure with fading memories for many vendors who once made brisk business on the premises some years ago.
Except for about two fish vendors who are stationed at the market, virtually all other vendors who once used to occupy the Baina fish market with pride have now abandoned the market and sell fish by the roadsides, after being left with no choice and zero hopes that the market could be restored to its former glory.
SITUATION
A visit to the Baina fish market revealed a broken roof, shattered window panes, unused fish baskets and other boxes, broken fans, cracked walls and broken window grills.
The market was virtually isolated, with only two vendors continuing to show their loyalty to the place. With absolutely no facility to carry out business, the Baina fish market has only a handful of customers as people prefer to depend on roadside vendors or door-to-door fish vendors for their daily fish requirements.
Many residents have blamed the Mormugao Municipal Council (MMC) for failing in its primary responsibility to maintain the existing infrastructure and to promote the local economy.
Sakhu Naik, one of the fish vendors in the market, said she had been struggling to sell fish in the Baina fish market. "We are struggling here and while I continue to come here and sell fish, most vendors have already shifted out of the market and are selling fish by the roadsides. The floors are all wet and slippery and the market is in a dilapidated state,” said Naik.
“Vendors selling meat and vegetables next to this market get a lot of customers, but many customers give this fish market a miss and prefer not to step inside.”
Added Manjula Lamani, the other fish vendor at the market: “We were earlier 20 vendors here in the Baina fish market but now we are only two vendors who operate from here despite the bad state of the market.”
“The situation is such that some people entered in the market from the broken windows and stole our Kingfish and Pomfret stock which we had kept here in the night," said the vendor.
The fish vendors have been repeatedly appealing to authorities to renovate the Baina fish market.
RESPONSE
When contacted, MMC Ward Councillor who is also the Vasco BJP Mandal President, Deepak Naik, said the Baina fish market would soon be taken up for renovation under GSIDC funds.
"I have been constantly following up on this issue and the project is almost finalised but it is pending for land acquisition,” said Naik. “We carried out a joint inspection last week and I have asked authorities to prepare an estimate for this project. I have time and again requested the MMC chairperson, chief officer and engineers to stop the sale of fish by the roadside in Baina.
“I will, however, take immediate steps to temporarily get the market in shape by replacing the roof and repairing the fans, besides taking minor works as a temporary relief till the Baina market project is taken up," said Naik.
