MARGAO
Ramponkars and traditional fishermen on Saturday bitterly protested as they struggled to find space in the wholesale fish market to sell their catch. The market was overcrowded with a large number of fish vehicles from within and outside the state.
The chaotic situation has only raised serious questions whether the SGPDA Chairman, MLA Wilfred D’Sa, and the members have relaxed the ceiling on the number of vehicles entering Goa’s lone wholesale fish market.
The overcrowding also raised questions how PDA Member Secretary Vertika Dagur and the members could turn a blind eye to the rampant violation of the social distancing norms.
Leave alone observing social-distancing norms, fishermen and customers were heard complaining of lack of space to walk in the market, posing a risk in times of the pandemic.
The traditional fishermen demanded to know whether the SGPDA has relaxed the social-distancing norms in the market. They further demanded to know whether the PDA had withdrawn the ceiling that only 25 vehicles will enter the wholesale fish market.
Some of the ramponakars were heard asking the media whether they are migrants as there was no space left for them to bring their fish inside the market.
Vice-president of Niz Ramponkarancho Ekvott Seby Fernandes said he could not unload his catch in the wholesale fish market, leaving him with no option but to transport the fish and dump the same as waste.
He said the land allocated to the traditional fishermen and ramponkars in the wholesale fish market was occupied by outside fish vehicles, adding that neither the police nor anyone came to the rescue of the ramponkars.
The traditional fishermen reminded that the wholesale fish market was meant for the local fishermen and
the traders.
“The traditional fishermen slog in the sea to get a good catch. We are not traders, who are in the business of buying and selling fish,” a fisherwoman said, demanding that Chief Minister Pramod Sawant and SGPDA Chairman, Wilfred D’Sa, protect the interests of the local traditional fisherfolk in the market.
A visit to the market on Saturday revealed that social distancing was thrown to the winds. Fish traders, customers and retailers jostled for space with a fleet of fish transporting vehicles occupying space in the market, with no authority around to enforce social distancing and maintain a semblance of order.
