MAPUSA
The Congress Party on Saturday criticised Mapusa MLA Joshua D’Souza and the Mapusa Municipal Council (MMC) for their “utter failure” to address the poor condition of the municipal fish and meat market, which now faces closure following a notice from the Health Officer.
The Health Officer has issued a final notice to seal the market within seven days if unhygienic conditions are not rectified. At a press conference in Mapusa, Congress leaders accused the MLA and MMC of negligence, saying their inaction had pushed the town’s main market to the brink of shutdown.
Those present included Adv. Shashank Narvekar, Sudhir Kandolkar, Dr Pratiksha Khalap, Vijay Bhike and Naushad Choudhary. “Mapusa is the capital of North Goa, but it’s going backwards. Roads are in ruins, parking is a mess, and development has stalled. Even with more councillors, nothing has improved,” Bhike said.
Narvekar said the Health Department’s final notice was issued on October 21 after an inspection exposed hygiene lapses. “No action followed. If the market shuts, it will cause chaos ” where will vendors go? What about the garbage and traffic issues?” he asked.
He also slammed the MLA for misplaced priorities. “Helipads come up overnight, but basic works are ignored. The market, inaugurated in 2014, still lacks a Health Department NOC,” he said.
Kandolkar called the market’s condition deplorable, saying garbage remains uncollected and sewage flows into the Tar River.
Dr Khalap criticised the lack of facilities for women vendors. “They work without water, toilets, or fans. If the market closes, the MLA must take responsibility,” she said.
The Congress demanded urgent action to prevent the market’s closure.
