Fish vendors have returned to occupy the space outside the Canacona market.
CANACONA
The fish vendors have returned to occupy the space outside the Canacona municipal fish market, prompting an angry Canacona Municipal Council (CMC) to threaten cancellation of plans for the new municipal fish market.
All fish vendors, comprising mostly women fisherfolk, were previously located outside the market complex, thereby hindering traffic and pedestrians right outside the old municipal council building, which has been demolished for construction of a new Administrative-Cum-Commercial building.
The fish vendors had justified their decision to move outside the market, after complaining that the municipal fish market was unfit for occupation as it was dirty, had no toilet and other facilities. They had also complained that fish was being sold by the roadsides in the municipality and as a result, customers were not interested in visiting the fish market to buy their fish.
CMC Chairperson Ramakant Naikgaunkar then intervened in the matter and CMC took decisive action by stopping the roadside sales of fish, especially along the Karwar-Margao highway and under the MPCBR overbridge near Char-Rasta.
The fish vendors relented and moved back into the municipal market, amid assurances that the CMC would clean the market regularly and would keep it clean and fit for occupation, while also stopping roadside fish sales in municipal areas.
However, all fish vendors began to desert the municipal fish market a few days ago and resumed selling fish outside the fish market, thereby blocking public access and roadside traffic at the municipal market entrance and Ponsulem roadside.
An upset CMC Chairperson Ramakant Naikgaunkar said the high-handed action of the fish vendors was unwarranted.
“The CMC has been cleaning the fish market regularly and has kept it tidy, while also stopping the sale of fish by the roadsides in the municipality. But despite that, fish vendors have moved outside the fish market once again,” said Naikgaunkar.
“If the market is not being used what is the point in maintaining the complex? I think the CMC will also have to disconnect power supply, instead of paying the bills for the unoccupied market.”
“The CMC will also have to rethink its proposal, already in the final stages, to construct a Rs 4 crore new municipal fish market. What is the use of a new fish market if fish vendors do not want to use the premises,” asked Naikgaunkar.
