Authority announces Jan 23 inauguration, cites late appointment of maintenance agencies for delay
MARGAO
The South Goa Planning and Development Authority (SGPDA) has finally decided to inaugurate the redeveloped Margao wholesale fish market on January 23. The PDA, however, may face a contentious question – will the planning body honour the latest date and utilise the market infrastructure since all previous dates had gone abegging for reasons best known to the PDA members?
A meeting of the SGPDA chaired by Chairman, MLA Krishna Salkar and attended by members, including MLAs Vijai Sardesai and Reginaldo Lourenco, took the decision to inaugurate the redeveloped wholesale fish market on January 23. The decision was announced by Chairman Salkar during post-meeting briefing and confirmed by Fatorda MLA Vijai Sardesai.
Like in the past, the SGPDA Chairman sought to attribute the delay in market inauguration to the delay in appointing the agencies for the upkeep, maintenance, cleaning and sanitation, throwing up questions why a planning body such as the SGPDA did not factor these requirements when the Goa State infrastructure Development Corporation (GSIDC) had completed the market construction a year ago in January last.
“There was a delay in inaugurating the market since the MLAs of Margao and Fatorda suggested putting the maintenance agencies for the market upkeep before the inauguration. Now, after complying with the formalities, all the three agencies are on board which will take care of the upkeep and maintenance of the market. Hence, it has been decided to inaugurate the market on January 23,” Salkar told the media.
Authority still indecisive on phase-II including cold storage
While the SGPDA is finally gearing up to inaugurate the redeveloped wholesale fish market, questions remain how the planning body will go about with the phase-II of the project, which includes the setting up of cold storage facility for the benefit of the traditional fishermen.
Take note, the Central government had sanctioned funds for the redevelopment of the Margao wholesale fish market, primarily to develop the market with a cold storage facility for the fishermen.
The SGPDA Chairman said the issue of development of phase-II of the project will be decided after a meeting with the GSIDC Chairman MLA Michael Lobo after the forthcoming Winter Session of the Goa Legislative Assembly. “The meeting will decide how to go about with phase-II of the market, whether the open space should remain open as the traders have made representations to keep the balance space open to tide over the space constraints,” he said.
He added: “We will take a decision after taking all factors into account, and without deviating from the original project since the Centre has funded the project with certain specifications.”
The PDA Chairman further informed that another meeting will be held between Chief Minister Pramod Sawant, Michael Lobo and PDA members to decide on the question of allocation of separate sheds for the fish traders and the local fishermen comprising of ramponkars, magkars and boat owners.
Fresh sopo auction tender by month-end
Strange it may seem, but true that the SGPDA is yet to float the tender for sopo fee collection despite the fact that allegations of corruption have been made in sopo collection from time to time.
SGPDA Chairman, MLA Krishna Salkar, however, defended the delay in floating the tender, saying when the PDA had floated the tender as per the High Court directions, bidders raised objection to the clause mandating the bidders to possess fishing business experience. “The tender could not move forward after the objection by the bidders. The government later removed the clause, but the tender could not be taken to its logical conclusion after bidders complained of the high rates assessed by the PWD,” he said, adding that the PDA would now float a fresh sopo fee collection tender by January-end.
Total revamp of retail market on cards
The SGPDA Chairman further pointed out that the PDA mega retail market total revamp is on the anvil as the planning body has moved a proposal to the government for one-time grant to the PDA to take up the work. He, however, urged the retail vendors to contribute substantial amount of money for the daily upkeep and maintenance.
