SGPDA chief says final works underway, tendering process to follow; sopo tender by month-end
The Margao wholesale fish market will now be finally inaugurated on September 20.
MARGAO
After endless delays and missed deadlines, the South Goa Planning and Development Authority has finally decided to commission the multi-crore redeveloped Margao wholesale fish market tentatively on September 20.
The SGPDA has also decided to float the wholesale fish market sopo tender by the month-end after receiving government approval.
SGPDA Chairman, MLA Krishna Salkar on Friday told The Goan that though the PDA had decided to inaugurate the wholesale fish market in July, the same could not take place since some minor works remained to be completed. “We had chalked out the plan to inaugurate the wholesale fish market before the commencement of the new fishing season on August 1. However, there were some minor issues which were brought to the PDA’s notice and have been since rectified,” he said.
He added; “The PDA’s attention was drawn to the presence of an electric pole right in the middle of the market. Since there were chances of visitors getting an electric shock, it has been decided to remove and relocate the pole. Work to remove the pole should start immediately.”
Salkar further pointed out that the gutters and drains, which drain water from the wholesale fish market, were also found incomplete. All these works would be taken up on a war footing before the market is tentatively inaugurated on September 20.
He said the PDA will invite Chief Minister Pramod Sawant to inaugurate the redeveloped wholesale fish market along with Town and Country Planning Minister Vishwajit Rane.
The Goa State Infrastructure Development Corporation (GSIDC) which is executing the work on the wholesale fish market had completed the first phase around December last year. There were reports that PDA will inaugurate the market on Goa Liberation Day and then on Republic Day, but in vain.
PDA to finalise sopo fee tender by next week
The PDA Chairman further informed that the tender will be finalised by coming week before the tender is floated inviting bids from prospective contractors to take up the work of sopo fee collection.
He said the PDA has sent the file to the government for approval, adding that the tender will be finalised and floated. “The tender will be an open tender and any prospective bidder can place his bid to bag the contract to collect the sopo fees. We want to complete the tendering exercise by September-end,” he added.
Incidentally, the last time the PDA had floated the tender was around September two years ago, but the tender process could not be taken to its logical conclusion due to a controversial clause insisting on 10-year experience in the fishing business. The tender was subsequently scrapped after the bidders raised their strong reservations to the clause. Since December 2023, the PDA is dragging its feet to float a fresh tender for best known to the Planning body, its members and officials.
Due to the inordinate delay in floating the sopo fee collection tender, sources said the PDA has lost precious revenue from the sopo fees over the last 2-3 years. While the PDA is collecting sopo fees amounting to Rs 11-12 lakh on an average per month, the Planning body had expected private players to pay a whopping Rs 32 lakh every month to the PDA by way of sopo fees as per the condition in the tender, which was later scrapped in 2023.
Pvt agency for market upkeep and maintenance
While the SGPDA has decided to award work on the toilet maintenance to Sulabh International, the PDA is considering roping an agency to look after the upkeep and cleanliness of the redeveloped markets after its commissioning.
The PDA Chairman pointed out cleanliness is maintained at the Goa Medical College and Hospital and other facilities because of the appointment of agencies to look after the upkeep and maintenance. “We have already decided to award work on the toilet maintenance to Sulabh agency. As far as the general market cleanliness is concerned, a private agency will be roped in to do the work to maintain hygiene and cleanliness,” Salkar added.
