the goan I network
MARGAO
Goa’s lone wholesale fish market at Margao will not reopen on Thursday and the Chief Minister Pramod Sawant may take a call on how to go about the issue as the wholesale traders have expressed their reservations over the conditions laid down in the notice.
A section of the wholesale fish trades is believed to have called on SGPDA Chairman, MLA Wilfred D’Sa, to discuss the host of conditions laid down by the planning body for the traders to comply with before reopening the market.
The PDA Chairman is believed to have discussed the issue telephonically with the Chief Minister, who is believed to have called a meeting in Panaji to discuss the issue threadbare.
“The market will not reopen on Thursday. The wholesale fish traders had called on me and expressed their reservations on the host of conditions. I discussed the matter with the Chief Minister, who has called for a meeting on Thursday,” D’Sa said.
He said the SGDPA had laid down the conditions for the reopening of the wholesale fish market to regulate the entry of dozens of fish transporting vehicles in the market especially because of the Covid-19 pandemic.
The PDA Chairman also raised the issue of social distancing, and how the entry of dozens of trucks will help maintain social distancing in the wholesale fish market.
The SGPDA had issued a notice on Wednesday expressing its willingness to reopen the wholesale fish market, but with stringent conditions, including the condition that all fish vehicles entering the market should be duly registered with the Directorate of Fisheries and Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) and possess a valid certificate.
Amongst other conditions, the SGPDA has maintained that the market will reopen and allow only a restricted number of vehicles and with reduced business timings.
