MARGAO
Thanks to the close monitoring of the wholesale fish market by the High Court, a semblance of cleanliness and discipline seems to be slowly falling into place. However, a significant fish bazaar is gradually emerging just meters away from the wholesale fish market across the River Sal in the adjacent Seraulim village.
With the SGPDA and the Margao Municipal authorities intensifying their crackdown on the illegal retail sale of fish outside the wholesale fish market, this unauthorized activity has now shifted across the River Sal into the adjoining Seraulim village.
Hordes of migrant vendors can be seen occupying the roadside in Seraulim village, just meters away from the wholesale fish market. Customers also appear to be heading to the Seraulim side of the wholesale fish market to purchase fish. In fact, the vendors are conducting brisk business, evident from the increasing number of customers frequenting the area.
Sources familiar with the situation pointed out that neither the SGPDA nor the MMC has jurisdiction over this area, as it falls under the village panchayat’s purview. Even the Fatorda police lack jurisdiction over the area where the migrant fish vendors engage in this illegal activity.
“We have no jurisdiction on the other side of the market, which is in Seraulim village. It is solely the responsibility of the Seraulim village Panchayat and the Colva police to take action and address this illegal activity,” informed an MMC official.
