MARGAO
Plan to shift the wholesale fish market from Madel to the government-acquired land near the SAG complex by mid-October hits a roadblock.
And, any delay in shifting the wholesale fish market to the temporary site, Goa State Infrastructure Development Corporation (GSIDC) officials say will further defer the completion of the modern market.
Reason? The wholesale fish market can be shifted on the land acquired by the Sports department only after levelling and development.
Rough estimates pegged that it will cost nothing less than Rs 1.5 crore for development before the land plays host to the makeshift wholesale market.
While the SGPDA has given the nod to the GSIDC to develop the land, comprising paddy fields, the question that has come to stare at the agency is who will foot the bill for the infrastructure on the acquired land amounting to Rs 1.5 crore.
When The Goan called up SGPDA officials to shed light on the status of the plan to temporarily shift the wholesale market, the official said the PDA had informed the GSIDC to go ahead with the development and levelling of the land and shift the market.
A senior GSIDC official, however, preferred to tread a cautious path on the issue. Pointing out that the SGPDA has prepared rough estimates for the development of the temporary site for the market, the GSIDC official reminded that construction of the modern market is the project envisaged by the Fisheries Department and the GSIDC is only executing the project as a depository work.
The GSIDC official added: “Unless, the Fisheries department allocates funds to carry out the infrastructure for the makeshift market, amounting to Rs 1.5 crore, the temporary shifting of the market may not take place.”
The GSIDC official further pointed out that the estimated amount of Rs 1.5 crore to develop the makeshift market is on the higher side, adding that the huge cost would go waste since the market is being developed temporarily.
“The SGPDA will be having a meeting later this week. The issue of the temporary shifting of the market will be discussed again. Let’s wait and see what the SGPDA members have to say on the huge funds that would go waste on the makeshift market,” he said.
The GSIDC official, however, hastened to add that the wholesale fish market under construction at Madel at Rs 13 crore in phase-I will get further delayed if the entire market area is not handed over to the contractor immediately.
