MARGAO
Even as representatives of various government agencies and NGOs inspected the SGPDA wholesale fish market on Thursday, none could provide a timeframe for improving conditions at the market, leaving traders, citizens and visitors waiting for a much-needed turnaround.
During the inspection, a representative of the Margao Wholesale Fish Market Association told the media that the association had not been consulted by the panel to understand the problems plaguing the market.
The representative pointed out that the platforms constructed as part of the redevelopment of the wholesale fish market were not conducive to fish trading due to their slippery surfaces. Although the Goa State Infrastructure Development Corporation (GSIDC) was scheduled to undertake additional works, including resurfacing the platforms, no work had commenced in this regard, the representative claimed.
GOACAN coordinator Roland Martins, a member of the 15-member panel constituted to look into the issues affecting the PDA markets, said the inspection of the wholesale fish market was the first step in the process. However, he was unable to say when the inspection of the SGPDA retail fish market would be conducted, indicating that the decision rested with the panel chairman, Margao Sub-Divisional Magistrate Ganesh Barve. Barve was absent from Thursday’s inspection as he had to rush to Panaji in connection with census work.
Responding to a query, Martins said representatives of the respective government departments would prepare reports on the inspection and submit them to the panel chairman, along with their observations and recommendations.
“We have seen that the wholesale fish market has not yet been commissioned. Hence, we will have to factor in the issues that need to be addressed before commissioning,” he said.
Martins said the panel would recommend short, medium and long-term measures to improve conditions in the PDA markets. He also pointed out that the wholesale fish market had not been commissioned and was functioning without the requisite legal sanction.
When asked about the numerous inspections conducted at the PDA markets in the past without any visible action, Martins said different departments were governed by different laws, requiring the panel to pursue issues with the respective authorities.
“We will have to pursue with each of the departments the issues falling within their domain and offer solutions. Inspections are the only way to identify discrepancies. I cannot give a timeframe, but we are working on it, and we will not stop here,” he said.
