CANACONA
Chaudi, the commercial hub of Canacona municipality, is home to the main fish, vegetable and fruit markets in the taluka, but all these markets have been suffering from various problems and traders and vendors have preferred to sell their wares by the roadsides in the municipality.
Overall, the Chaudi market area lacks lacks the basic requirements and facilities for traders and the customers alike.
The present fish market has been virtually unoccupied as fish vendors have been avoiding the market and squat outside in the public place to sell fish for the day.
There have been frequent complaints that the Chaudi fish market is infested with worms, insects and flies and despite some maintenance by the CMC, the fish market is hardly fit for occupation and trade.
The unclean toilet and surroundings have only added to the woes of the fish market
Following public outcry, Canacona health authorities carried out an inspection of the municipal fish market at Chaudi and issued a letter to the CMC Chief Officer seeking immediate corrective measures as the site poses a major health hazard.
In May, fisherwomen had marched to the CMC to demand the better maintenance and cleanliness at the fish market.
Faced with mounting pressure, the CMC recently approved the construction of a modern fish market under the GSUDA.
The vegetable and fruit market complex which was built and made functional only a few years ago after it was inaugurated by then urban development minister late Francis D’Souza is a virtual white elephant in Chaudi.
The three-storeyed complex is partly occupied by vegetables and fruits vendors only on the ground floor, while the allotment of upper floors is yet to be finalised by the municipal council.
The toilets in the vegetable market, which is adjacent to the dilapidated fish market, are also in a bad condition.
Sources have stated that as soon as work on the new fish market is completed, the toilets in the vegetable market will be repaired and used for vendors in the fish market.
Besides the fish market and vegetable/fruit market at Chaudi, the municipal shopping complex in front of the upcoming new municipal building is also lying in bad shape. While the ground has a few shops in operation, some private shops on the first floor are either shut down or non-functional.
