MARGAO
The wholesale fish market witnessed an uproar on Tuesday morning after the SGPDA, Fatorda police and the Margao Municipal Council workers launched a coordinated action to stop any kind of activity in the market after 9.30 am.
The move was resisted by the traditional fishermen from Salcete coastal belt, as the ramponkars argued that there cannot be fixed timings for them as they bring fish to the market depending on the catch.
After descending on the stinking wholesale fish market at around 9.
The wholesale fish market witnessed an uproar on Tuesday morning after the SGPDA, Fatorda police and the Margao Municipal Council workers launched a coordinated action to stop any kind of activity in the market after 9.30 am.
The move was resisted by the traditional fishermen from Salcete coastal belt, as the ramponkars argued that there cannot be fixed timings for them as they bring fish to the market depending on the catch.
After descending on the stinking wholesale fish market at around 9.
30 am, the officials and workers of the three agencies closed the entrance gate to the market, creating an uproar among the fish vendors and customers alike as they were caught unawares by the sudden action.
Heated arguments ensued between the fish vendors and SGPDA officer Paul Pereira as the police closed the entrance gate, while the MMC workers went about removing the vendors and confiscating fish baskets.
The traditional fishermen contended that there cannot be any fixed timings for them since they bring the catch depending on the rampon (traditional fishing gear) and arrival of the country-made boats with fish catch.
Libreta Fernandes said the restrictions sought to be imposed by the SGPDA do not augur well for the traditional fishermen, adding that they cannot be forced to sell their fish at the retail fish market since they are not retail fish vendors. "How can the SGPDA restrict the activity of the traditional fishermen when the occupation is dependent on the fish catch by the small boats and the rampons," Libreta asked, while asserting that the traditional fishermen will call on the SGPDA officials and place details about their activity.
Libreta further said that people come to the wholesale fish market because they get good and cheap fish, unlike the retail fish market where fish is sold at a high rate.
SGDPA official Paul Pereira said the SGPDA has taken a decision not to allow any fish activity in the wholesale fish market after 9.30 am. He told the vendors that if they have any fish to be sold after 9.30 am, they can go to the retail fish market, a proposal which did not find favour with the traditional fishermen.
When The Goan contacted SGPDA Member Secretary Ashok Kumar to shed light on the uproar in the wholesale fish market, he said the three agencies, SGPDA, police and MMC had gone to inspect the market following complaints received from the retail fish vendors that retail fish continues to be sold in the wholesale fish market despite the PDA crackdown.
"The traditional fishermen have plans to present their views on the decision to shut down operations and they will be heard. We would explain to them why the PDA has decided to restrict the timings to 9.30 in the morning," Ashok Kumar said.
Heated arguments ensued between the fish vendors and SGPDA officer Paul Pereira as the police closed the entrance gate, while the MMC workers went about removing the vendors and confiscating fish baskets.
The traditional fishermen contended that there cannot be any fixed timings for them since they bring the catch depending on the rampon (traditional fishing gear) and arrival of the country-made boats with fish catch.
Libreta Fernandes said the restrictions sought to be imposed by the SGPDA do not augur well for the traditional fishermen, adding that they cannot be forced to sell their fish at the retail fish market since they are not retail fish vendors. "How can the SGPDA restrict the activity of the traditional fishermen when the occupation is dependent on the fish catch by the small boats and the rampons," Libreta asked, while asserting that the traditional fishermen will call on the SGPDA officials and place details about their activity.
Libreta further said that people come to the wholesale fish market because they get good and cheap fish, unlike the retail fish market where fish is sold at a high rate.
SGDPA official Paul Pereira said the SGPDA has taken a decision not to allow any fish activity in the wholesale fish market after 9.30 am. He told the vendors that if they have any fish to be sold after 9.30 am, they can go to the retail fish market, a proposal which did not find favour with the traditional fishermen.
When The Goan contacted SGPDA Member Secretary Ashok Kumar to shed light on the uproar in the wholesale fish market, he said the three agencies, SGPDA, police and MMC had gone to inspect the market following complaints received from the retail fish vendors that retail fish continues to be sold in the wholesale fish market despite the PDA crackdown.
"The traditional fishermen have plans to present their views on the decision to shut down operations and they will be heard. We would explain to them why the PDA has decided to restrict the timings to 9.30 in the morning," Ashok Kumar said.
