MARGAO
Welcoming the SGPDA’s decision to allow traditional fishermen to enter the wholesale fish market during any part of the day, Benaulim MLA Venzy Viegas has said the PDA should not take steps to comply with the Court directive’s to maintain hygiene and ban vehicular parking along the wholesale fish market road.
Venzy made his appearance at the SGPDA office on Wednesday when the Planning body was deliberating on the sensitive issue. After the PDA took the decision in principle to lifting the timings at the wholesale fish market for the traditional fishermen, Venzy said the authorities should now take measures to clean up the wholesale fish market road by removing thermocol and litter dumped along the road.
Meanwhile, earlier in the day, traditional fishermen led by Pele Fernandes and Jose Fernandes demanded that the government work out an early solution to the SGPDA decision to shut business in the wholesale fish market by 10 am.
Addressing the media in the presence of Benaulim MLA Venzy Viegas on Wednesday, Pele said that the government cannot shut the wholesale fish market or restrict the market timing for the traditional fishermen slogging out in the sea to catch fish. “We traditional fishermen go out in the sea and return to the shore only after a catch. Sometimes, we return back in the morning, around noon and in the evening. How would the fishermen dispose of our catch if the wholesale fish market is shut by 10 am,” Pele wondered.
He recalled that during the Covid-19 pandemic, people of Salcete, right from Cuncolim to Verna, Navelim and Raia had all headed to the coastal belt to lay their hands on fresh fish when the markets were shut down.
Fisherman Jose Fernandes said the authorities, including the SGPDA and the MMC should first study the issue before taking a decision. “Just because the Court has issued directions to make the road clean and free from litter, the authorities cannot bar the fishermen from doing business in the wholesale fish market,” he said.
