MARGAO
Can beleaguered fish vendors look forward for a turnaround in the SGPDA retail and wholesale fish markets after PDA Chairman, MLA Krishna Daji Salkar’s inspection of the two markets on Thursday?
Broken tiles and damaged pavers, clogged drains, filth and stink around, encroachments in the passages et al greeted the PDA Chairman as he descended in the retail and wholesale fish markets on Thursday with PDA Member Secretary Vinod Kumar and other officials in tow.
For a moment, Salkar was left to wonder why the broken floor tiles and the damaged pavers have been left unattended to when hundreds, if not thousands of Madgavkars and Saxttikars visit the market every day. He tried to figure out why the retail fish market has come to such a sorry state when the PDA is duty bound to look after the day-to-day maintenance.
Beleaguered fish vendors, who have been insisting on the intervention of the PDA for several months now, demanding a turnaround in the mega retail fish market, had an opportunity to air their grievances to the new PDA Chairman and the Member Secretary.
They highlighted the host of issues plaguing the PDA retail fish market, right from maintenance to issues relating to power, water, etc. In the past too, these fish vendors had knocked the doors of the PDA to set things right in the market, but in vain.
Salkar promised the vendors that issues relating to broken tiles, damaged pavers, clogged drains and the overall market maintenance will be addressed on priority.
In fact, PDA Member Secretary Vinod Kumar pointed out that the PDA Junior Engineer will be instructed to prepare the estimates to replace the damaged tiles and pavers on priority, so that the work can start immediately.
The PDA Chairman later told the media that he is absolutely not happy with the state of affairs at the retail and wholesale fish market. “At least, the PDA could have put cement in place of the broken tiles and pavers if it could not replace the damaged items to ensure that customers do not fall down.”
He added: “I have promised to provide basic amenities in the market in public interest. Things should hopefully improve in the coming days.”
Salkar visited the wholesale fish market following complaints of vehicular parking on the road, causing obstruction to traffic.
