the goan I network
MARGAO
Vegetable waste piled up in passages and corridors of the South Goa Planning and Development Authority’s vegetable market even as waste was not cleared since the last two days.
Confusion reigned supreme whether the contractor engaged by SGPDA to collect sopo from the vegetable vendors and also look after the upkeep and maintenance of the vegetable market has stopped the work since the last two days following speculations that the new PDA headed by Chairman, MLA Wilfred D’Sa will go in for a new set of contractors and security agency in the market.
A visit to the vegetable market only brought to the fore the grim reality with vegetable waste piling up along the passages and corridors. Left with no option, the vendors themselves have taken up the task of cleaning the passages in front of their stalls and store the collected waste in the market.
Vendors told The Goan that it’s now two days since the contractor had failed to come and clear the waste, leaving them in a tight spot. They had no idea why the contractor did not show up pointing that the SGPDA should have first appointed a new contractor before asking the incumbent one to stop waste collection.
The vendors feared that the situation may aggravate during the weekend if the PDA does not step in and clear the waste and dispose the same in the adjoining municipal bins. “We only fear that the vegetable waste may start rotting if the same is not disposed of on Sunday”, a vendor said, adding that the situation may aggravate.
The Margao Municipal vehicles, sources say, clear the vegetable waste from the retail market only if the waste is stored at the designated bins near the market.
When The Goan called up SGPDA Member secretary Ashok Kumar to shed light on the issue, he clarified that the PDA has not issued any notice on the incumbent contractor to stop the waste collection. “The PDA has neither taken any decision to discontinue the services of the contractor nor has issued him a notice to stop the work”, he said, adding that he would draw the attention of the new PDA Chairman Wilfred D’Sa on the situation in the vegetable market.
Vendors say the PDA should take an urgent call on the burning issue and not wait for the PDA meeting likely to take place later next week.
Sources in the know told The Goan that the new PDA was contemplating to discontinue the services of the existing sopo and maintenance contractor as well as the security contractor following the recent change in guard at the PDA.
