the goan I network
MARGAO
With the Panjim bench of the Bombay High Court monitoring the conditions in Goa’s lone wholesale fish market, Margao Municipal Chief Officer Siddivinayak Naik and his team descended in the market on Thursday to take stock of the hygiene and sanitation and order a clean up operation.
Given that the wholesale fish market is under the control of the South Goa Planning and Development Authority (SGPDA), this is perhaps the first time since the market was commissioned a decade ago that the Margao Municipal officials descended in the market to check the state of hygiene and sanitation.
Taken aback by the state of affairs inside the wholesale fish market, the Chief Officer demanded to know from a PDA official why there’s no cleaning of the market on a day-to-day basis. As he came across pools of stagnant waters all around the market, the Chief Officer further questioned the PDA and a representative of the wholesale fish traders. And, he wondered why the contractor, who has been entrusted with the responsibility of the cleanliness of the market has not been discharging his duties.
In fact, after visiting the wholesale fish market, the Chief Officer said that the Municipality would use night soil tankers to remove the sludge that is accumulated in the storm water drains all around the market.
“I have come across so many issues which has comprised with public safety and health. There was stagnated water all round the market, only indicating the intensity of the situation,” Naik added.
“It appears that the drainage is connected to a water nullah. The PDA has mooted an effluent treatment plant, but pending the construction of the plant, the MMC will write to the PDA that the civic body would send a night soil tanker to clean the drains in the market,” the Chief Officer added.
He said the MMC will further ask the PDA to deposit a certain amount with the civic body to undertake the cleanliness operations in the wholesale fish market.
