VASCO
Local fish vendors on Thursday confronted Mormugao Municipal Council (MMC) Chairperson Deepak Naik yet again, this time over the delay in directing police to curb the sale of roadside fish by Lamani hawkers.
“One week has passed since we had lodged a complaint with MMC requesting you to stop the roadside sale of fish. But till date, no action has been initiated and Lamani hawkers continue to sell the fish,” local fish vendors' leader Dulcina D’Souza told Naik.
“You had promised us that you would immediately write to the police and direct them to stop the roadside sale of fish, but till date there is no police action on the illegal sale of fish,” she added.
Another fish vendor, Anita Fernandes, asked Naik if Lamani hawkers would have allowed Goan fisherwomen to carry out business in their native places.
“It is a question of the livelihood of 500 local fish vendors who have been affected due to sale of fish along the roadside,” said Fernandes, while highlighting the difficulties faced by them to earn a decent living.
Mary Goes told the MMC chairperson that besides the roadside sale of fish by Lamani hawkers, a private van also sells fish near the KTC bus stand Vasco and at New Vaddem, adversely affecting sale in the fish market.
After listening to the grievances, Naik said he would take up the matter with his chief officer.
“If, according to the chief officer, the council can write to the police to stop the sale, I will immediately act by April 8.”
“After receiving your complaint, MMC had deputed municipal inspectors to stop the sale of fish. But the moment they see our staff, they run away and come back once our staff is gone. Most Lamani hawkers sell fish after 7 pm and since the staff is off duty, we cannot act,” said Naik.
Reminding the local fisherfolk that fish is sold to Lamani hawkers by their own trawler owners, Naik said the local vendors should request trawler owners to stop selling fish to Lamani hawkers as this would solve the problem permanently.
“Let us convene a meeting of the trawler owners, leaders of fish vendors and MMC and resolve the issue once and for all,” suggested Naik.
Realising that the MMC would not function for the next two days, the local fish vendors urged Naik to send a letter to the police on Thursday itself, but Naik refused to do so.
