the goan I network
VASCO
Tension between the fisherwomen and fish wholesalers in Vasco flared up yet again on Friday, when some fisherwomen of the Vasco fish market confronted a wholesaler allegedly selling fish from behind his shop, which was shut and locked from the front.
Angry fisherwomen gathered in large numbers outside the outlet and demanded that the stall be shut down immediately.
With tempers running high, a Vasco police team rushed to the site to control the situation.
Fisherwomen also threatened to remain at the wholesaler’s shop and also warned they would start selling fish in the MMC building, if the wholesaler was not stopped immediately from selling fish outside the Vasco fish market.
“We are tired of complaints. This wholesaler was directed by MMC not to sell fish outside the market. We also won a case against them but still he is not listening. He claims not to have received a copy of the order. The MMC chief officer has said that he has now given him the a copy of the order,” said a fisherwoman Magdalena D’Souza.
Angry fisherwomen then marched to the Mormugao Municipal Council (MMC) in a bid to meet the chief officer and resolve the issue permanently.
Speaking to media, Fr Michael Fernandes, an advocate representing the fisherwomen, said the MMC had passed an order prohibiting the sale of fish outside Vasco fish market.
“The wholesalers appealed against this order before
the Directorate of Municipal Administration (DMA) and
had obtained a stay on the MMC order.”
“On August 21, the DMA vacated the stay and the MMC chief officer’s order became the operative order and now, no one can sell fish anywhere outside the fish market.”
“But since wholesalers are still selling fish, the fisherwomen from the fish market have arrived here. We demand that the MMC chief officer’s order be implemented strictly,” said Fr Fernandes.
Strict ban on sale of fish outside
market, says MMC
VASCO: MMC Chief Officer Agnelo Fernandes on Friday said the issue was resolved after the MMC had passed an order that no fish could be sold outside the designated place, which is the Vasco fish market.
“Based on my order, the aggrieved wholesalers had appealed in the DMA, but the DMA has upheld my order and now, it is time that they have to either shift to the designated place or stop selling fish at Gaddas or shops or roads,” said Fernandes.
“I have already issued directions to my inspectors to enforce this order,” the chief officer added.
